INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what measures the Government plan to take to meet the humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees still in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what measures the Government propose to take in the coming months for refugees from Afghanistan who have already crossed its borders;
	(3)  what special action has been taken to meet the needs of Afghan refugee children who have been displaced by the recent movement of people in Afghanistan since 11 September;
	(4)  what money the Government intend to make available for Afghan refugees who are (a) outside and (b) within Afghanistan; and when the money will be made available;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the humanitarian needs of displaced Afghans over the next six months; and (a) what proportion of those needs is already covered by pledges made by Britain and by the European Union and (b) what proportion of the funds have already been released to agencies delivering help to Afghan refugees.

Clare Short: The UN estimates that there are at least 5.3 million vulnerable people inside Afghanistan. This is expected to rise by a further 2.2 million in coming weeks, bringing the total of vulnerable people in need of assistance inside the country to 7.5 million. In addition, there were already some 4 million Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries due to over 20 years of conflict and four years of harsh drought conditions.
	The UN and their non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners have launched an appeal for $584 million to cover the period October 2001 to March 2002. Donors, including the UK and the EU, have so far responded with commitments of $301 million. $29 million has also been pledged to humanitarian agencies outside of the UN Donor Alert. In addition, donors announced pledges of a further $407 million in support for humanitarian assistance for Afghans. However, it is not yet clear how these additional funds will be allocated. Information is not available on what proportion of funds have actually been released to humanitarian agencies.
	My Department has set aside a sum of £40 million to respond to the current crisis affecting Afghans in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries. We have also set aside a further sum of £11 million for immediate short-term support to the poorer communities of Pakistan, especially those most directly affected by the influx of refugees from Afghanistan. Our top priorities are to help meet immediate life-saving needs (food, water, health care, shelter) within Afghanistan, as best as possible and for as long as possible, through the national staff of relevant agencies; support refugee needs in neighbouring countries; help host populations through programmes which benefit them, for example in health care, food, water and sanitation provision; and strengthen international humanitarian agency capacity and co-ordination.
	These funds are being made available now through UN agencies, the Red Cross movement and NGOs. Their programmes include particular emphasis on children. For example, £3 million has been provided to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) for disease control, nutrition supplementation, safe water and sanitation, and psychosocial support to traumatised children.

Afghanistan

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid has been provided in Afghanistan in each of the last three financial years and in the 2001–02 financial year to date;
	(2)  if she will list aid provided by (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral sources for refugees from Afghanistan in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) track donor contributions to humanitarian appeals. According to OCHA, donor contributions for humanitarian assistance to Afghans since 1996 are as follows:
	
		
			  $ million 
		
		
			 1996 65 
			 1997 44 
			 1998 54 
			 1999 111 
			 2000 122 
			 2001 (1)222 
		
	
	(1) Up to 11 September 2001
	It is not possible to differentiate from OCHA's data between assistance to Afghans inside Afghanistan and assistance to Afghan refugees; nor the split of assistance provided bilaterally and multilaterally.
	Since 1997, my Department has provided over £32 million of humanitarian assistance to Afghans. This has included help to refugees in Pakistan and Iran who have themselves been so generous to millions of refugees over many years. Since 11 September, we have set aside an additional sum of £40 million to respond to the current crisis affecting Afghans in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries; as well as a further £11 million for immediate short-term support to the poorer communities of Pakistan, especially those most directly affected by the influx of refugees from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures (i) the British Government and (ii) the EU had already taken to help refugees from Afghanistan who crossed the borders, before 11 September, into (a) Iran and (b) Pakistan.

Clare Short: Between 1997 and 11 September this year my Department has provided over £32 million of humanitarian assistance to Afghans. This has included help to refugees in Pakistan and Iran who have themselves been so generous to millions of refugees over many years. Our funding for assistance to Afghan refugees has been channelled through the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for protection and education activities, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for emergency feeding programmes, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) for education and primary health care programmes, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) for improving the reproductive health status of refugees, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for education and livelihood building programmes.
	Since 1991, the European Commission has committed some euro 430 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghan populations in need (approximately euro 81.7 million or £51 million of which is the UK share). This covers assistance to Afghans both inside Afghanistan and those in neighbouring countries.

Afghanistan

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government (a) have taken and (b) intend to take to co-ordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees.

Clare Short: Co-ordination for humanitarian assistance is the responsibility of the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) who have appointed a Regional Humanitarian Co-ordinator based in Islamabad. My Department has provided £1 million to OCHA to support these co-ordinated efforts. This contribution will also be used to increase the capacity of the Offices of the UN Resident Co-ordinators in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan. This includes the provision of technical personnel to set up a Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) that will collate and communicate humanitarian information on the needs and programmes, to all concerned agencies.
	We also welcome the appointment of Ambassador Brahimi as the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, who will supervise the UN's overall humanitarian and political work in Afghanistan. We have offered to provide practical support to his office.

Afghanistan

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what policy her Department has to deal with members of the public who wish to make a contribution to humanitarian aid administered to Afghanistan refugees in Pakistan and Iran.

Clare Short: If members of the public wish to help Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran, the best way is to donate cash to a humanitarian agency, such as the British Red Cross, or other NGOs, working in the region. Although some people may have collected goods that they would like to give to those in need, it is better to find some way of turning collected or donated goods into cash, and then to donate the proceeds to a humanitarian agency's public appeal. The logistics involved in despatching donated goods (cleaning, sorting, packaging and freighting) are time consuming and expensive, and cash donations are a faster and more economical way to provide assistance to those in need.

Pakistan

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what levels of (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid have been provided to Pakistan in each of the last five financial years and in the 2001–02 financial year to date.

Clare Short: Levels of UK bilateral aid to Pakistan over the last five financial years are listed:
	
		£ million 
		
			 Year Amount 
		
		
			 1996–97 27.516 
			 1997–98 27.818 
			 1998–99 24.226 
			 1999–2000 22.625 
			 2001–01 15.038 
		
	
	Levels of total multilateral aid for the last five calendar years are as follows:
	
		US$ million 
		
			 Year Amount 
		
		
			 1995 528.45 
			 1996 609.40 
			 1997 527.66 
			 1998 521.82 
			 1999 296.78 
		
	
	Published plans for bilateral aid for the current financial year allocated £15 million to Pakistan, of which we have spent £3.9 million to date. We currently expect to disburse this allocation in full by 31 March 2002, though of course it is in the nature of planning figures that they are subject to change in the light of events.
	Information on multilateral spending for the current financial year is not available.In addition, I have allocated an extra £11 million to assist Pakistan with the short-term humanitarian and broader economic impacts of the current crisis. This is planned for disbursement in the present calendar year.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of her Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Clare Short: The Department has a normal retirement age of 60, regardless of grade or job title. The one exception is the three Security Guards who have a right to retire at age 65 in line with the terms of service of their previous employer, following their transfer to the Department under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. The retirement age for the Senior Civil Service is determined by the Cabinet Office and is currently 60.

Angola

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the (a) humanitarian situation and (b) situation of children in Angola.

Clare Short: The humanitarian consequences of the continuing war in Angola are appalling. Children and other vulnerable groups bear the brunt of the suffering. There is some evidence that in those areas where there is good humanitarian access, malnutrition rates have eased recently, but this represents only temporary respite for a limited number. There remains a pressing need for a negotiated and inclusive end to the conflict. The UK has contributed £2.82 million this year to the humanitarian relief effort through UN agencies and NGO's as well as our contribution through the EC. We continue to monitor the situation through the UN, NGOs, the Red Cross societies, and by undertaking regular visits.

Weapons Eradication

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the UK has allocated to UN agencies for weapons eradication; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, are working to implement the Government's three-year £19.5 million strategy on small arms under our global conflict prevention pool. Under the auspices of the strategy the Government have been looking at ways of providing long-term support to UN agencies for comprehensive arms control and reduction measures, including weapons destruction. To date, we have committed £120,000 to the UN Regional Centre in Lima, Peru to assist in the practical implementation of regional and international agreements to combat illicit weapons trafficking. Also, under the strategy we are planning to commit £7.5 million to supporting the UN Development Programme in a global programme for weapons collection, management and destruction. The strategy will continue to look at areas where support for UN agencies will help to meet our objectives of reducing the number of lives affected by violent conflict through the uncontrolled availability of small arms and light weapons.

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by her Department, broken down by leases by the Department itself, its next step agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

Clare Short: My Department has taken on three buildings in London over the last five years. These are our new headquarters building at 1 Palace Street, London SW1 (our current building being planned for demolition) and two smaller offices at 20 Victoria Street, London SW1, and Glen House, Stag Place, London SW1.
	The buildings are all leased, with the annual rent being as follows:
	1 Palace Street: £4,456,450
	20 Victoria Street: £250,000
	Glen House: £116,970.
	No current valuation for the properties is available. We have no next steps agencies or NDPBs.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is towards (a) the operation of NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa, (b) the substitution of western for local cultural norms by NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa and (c) NGOs promoting western concepts of the role of women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Clare Short: My Department works with civil society (including NGOs) in the UK and in sub-Saharan Africa to build the capacity of poor people so that their voices may be heard whenever decisions are taken locally, nationally and internationally that affect their lives.
	Like most Governments in sub-Saharan Africa, we support the internationally agreed human rights framework. This provides a common set of principles for tackling poverty and inequality. These include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and cultural entitlements.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Valetta Convention

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate has been made of the amount of funding required for projects unable to be conducted by volunteer archaeologists under the Valetta convention;
	(2)  what consultations took place with local archaeological societies before the Government signed the Valetta convention;
	(3)  what provisions have been made for monitoring the impact of implementing the Valetta convention on the activities of local voluntary archaeological groups and societies;
	(4)  what groups will be consulted on the setting up of a register to implement article 3 of the Valetta convention;
	(5)  what consultations are planned, and with what groups, over the next 12 months on the implementation of the Valetta convention;
	(6)  what estimates have been made of the likely costs to public funds of implementing the Valetta convention;
	(7)  what timetable has been agreed for the implementation of article 3 of the Valetta convention.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on and plans for the implementation of the Valetta Convention.

Kim Howells: It is for each Government to apply the European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (known as the Valetta Convention 1992) in ways that fit in with national practice and legislation. In broad terms, current measures in place in the UK already meet the convention's requirements. The Government do not believe that additional legislation, requiring a licensing system, is necessary to fulfil article 3. Much archaeological work is already controlled through existing mechanisms. In England, English Heritage will be taking forward consultations with appropriate bodies representing all parts of the archaeological community on any necessary improvements to the operation of existing systems of control and on the development of a voluntary Code of Conduct for those who wish to undertake archaeological work outside those existing systems. They will begin work on this during the autumn.

Valetta Convention

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what measures she plans to put in place to enable amateur archaeologists to continue with their work without contravening Article 3 of the Valetta Convention;
	(2)  what consultations are planned to develop appropriate procedures for the authorisation and supervision of future archaeological work in accordance with Article 3 of the Valetta Convention.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 July 2001
	It is for each Government to apply the European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (known as the Valetta Convention 1992) in ways that fit in with national practice and legislation. In broad terms, current measures in place in the UK already meet the Convention's requirements. The Government do not believe that additional legislation, requiring a licensing system, is necessary to fulfil Article 3. Much archaeological work is already controlled through existing mechanisms. In England, English Heritage will be taking forward consultations with appropriate bodies representing all parts of the archaeological community on any necessary improvements to the operation of existing systems of control and on the development of a voluntary Code of Conduct for those who wish to undertake archaeological work outside those existing systems. They will begin work on this during the autumn.

Valetta Convention

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the implications of the Valetta Convention on archaeology for the licensed activities of metal detector groups.

Kim Howells: The European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (revised) (known as the Valetta Convention 1992) came into effect in the UK on 31 March 2001. The Explanatory Report on the Convention makes it clear that
	'a State however, may only require mandatory reporting of finds of precious metal or on already listed sites'.
	This falls within the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the Treasure Act 1996. Further, article 3 might seem at first glance to require states to institute a system of licensing metal detectors but, as the Explanatory Report points out,
	'prior authorisation of the use of metal detectors or "any other detection equipment" applies only to "archaeological investigation" and therefore not to the normal use of metal detectors'.
	Therefore in the Government's view the current measures in place in England and Wales already meet the requirements of the Valetta Convention as regards portable antiquities. The impact on the activities of legitimate metal detector groups should be minimal.

Valetta Convention

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of whether the provisions of the Valetta Convention would be in contravention of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Kim Howells: The European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (known as the Valetta Convention 1992) is one of a family of Council of Europe Conventions dealing with the protection of the historic environment. The Human Rights Act 1998 gives further effect in the UK to the rights guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The Act itself does not have any force outside the UK, but clearly the ECHR does. Both the Valetta Convention and the ECHR are treaties of the Council of Europe with many of the same signatory states. We have no reason to believe that the two conventions are incompatible.

European City of Culture

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the advisory committee referred to in the guidelines for the European City of Culture will be appointed; who will appoint individuals; what selection procedures will be used to select and appoint committee members; what the deadline is by which interested cities must declare an interest in bidding; how many cities will be shortlisted; if there will be a programme of visits to bidding cities; and if there will be a limit on the nature and the extent of illustrative material which can be submitted to support a bid.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 July 2001
	The advisory panel referred to in the guidelines will be in place by spring 2002.
	The members of the advisory panel will be appointed by Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Ministers. They will be selected from the usual sources used by the Department for public appointments. These include: DCMS and Cabinet Office databases, consultation with other Government Departments and with the devolved Administrations, nominations from individuals or by other organisations. While appointments to the advisory panel are not expected to fall within the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice, the Department will apply the spirit of the code when making these appointments.
	The deadline for applications by interested cities is 31 March 2002 and we anticipate that the shortlist will be announced by autumn 2002. No decision has been made regarding the number of cities which will be shortlisted. No decision has been made regarding visits to bidding cities. We have placed no limit on the nature and extent of illustrative material to support a bid, except that any audio-visual material should last no longer than 30 minutes.

Absence

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days on average were lost per employee in her Department because of sickness; and how many officials retired early from her Department in each of the past 10 years. [R]

Kim Howells: The information requested showing the average number of days lost due to sickness per employee and the number of officials who retired early in my Department are set out in the following table. These figures are for each complete year from 1993 following the creation of my Department in 1992.
	
		
			 Year Average days sick Early retirements 
		
		
			 1993 4.8 2 
			 1994 4.9 3 
			 1995 4.5 2 
			 1996 6.6 3 
			 1997 7.7 0 
			 1998 8.7 1 
			 1999 7.9 0 
			 2000 8.9 3

TV Subtitling

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to extend subtitling requirements to digital, cable and satellite television.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 19 July 2001
	Extending the statutory targets for subtitling, signing and audio description on digital terrestrial television to digital cable and digital satellite services requires primary legislation. My intention is for the increased 80 per cent. subtitling target to be included in the forthcoming draft Communications Bill.

Royal Parks

Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what species and number of animals have been culled under licence in each of the Royal Parks during the last three years.

Kim Howells: holding answer 20 July 2001
	Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, William Weston. Mr. Weston wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 August as follows.
	Letter from William Weston to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 14 August 2001
	I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of animals culled under licence in each of the Royal Parks during the last three years. I regret that it was not possible to answer your question before the Summer recess. However, the information you requested is as follows.
	Only Regent's Park has culled under licence over the past three years; the details are set out below.
	1999: 0
	2000: 97 Canada Geese, 25 Greylag Geese
	2001: 0.

Departmental Funding

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to reform the system of allocating funds from her Department between regions.

Richard Caborn: Most of this Department's funds are allocated through non-departmental public bodies. It is for those bodies to determine how their funds will be used, in accordance with their funding agreements with the Department.
	The funding system for the arts will be reformed to create a single funding organisation with regional arts councils and considerably enhanced levels of local government involvement. The new system will enable the regions to be active drivers of the funding system, rather than merely clients of a national body. It will result in a more streamlined organisation which will offer up savings that can be ploughed back into the arts, as well as providing a structure that is simpler and more consistent for those applying for funds and support. The Arts Council of England is currently consulting on the detail of the proposed changes.
	In relation to national lottery funding, we have asked the community fund to target £100 million and the new opportunities fund an additional £50 million to some 50 areas which are both deprived and have received less lottery funding than other parts of the country.
	There are no current plans to change the system in relation to funds which are allocated directly by this Department.

Sport Action Zones

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria will be used to select the next group of Sport Action Zones; and how many will be designated in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months.

Richard Caborn: Sport England has decided that the remaining 18 Sport Action Zones will be designated following a bidding process which it proposes to launch in January next year. The bidding process will focus on the top 20 per cent. of deprived areas in the country and the criteria to be taken into account in assessing the applications will relate to the degree of socio-economic deprivation; the scope for working with other partners and initiatives in the area; and the level of sporting need and deprivation. It is anticipated that each region will have at least one zone and a maximum of five. Sport England expects to announce its decisions in October 2002.

Digital Television

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what date all households in Essex will be able to receive digital television by (a) cable and (b) terrestrial distribution systems; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are committed to ensuring that everyone who currently receives the main public service channels broadcasting on analogue will continue to do so digitally after the switchover to digital television, whether by terrestrial, cable or satellite means. The BBC and ITC, who are responsible for the digital terrestrial television (DTT) network, are considering, in consultation with the digital broadcasters, manufacturers, consumer groups and Government, how to improve the core coverage of all digital television multiplexes across the UK. Maps showing the current predicted DTT coverage from each of the UK DTT transmitter sites have been placed in both Houses on CD-ROM and maps are also available on the Digital Television Group website: www.dtg.org.uk. These show that most of Essex is served by the Crystal Palace, Sudbury and Bluebell Hill transmitters. Cable services are available in Essex, although coverage concentrates on areas of dense population. It is for cable operators to decide on the roll out of their digital services and viability of extending services to non-urban areas.

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the top 10 companies to which her Department contracted out their construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months.

Kim Howells: My Department leases existing buildings in central London and has not commissioned any construction projects. Two limited refurbishment contracts were let in the period January 2000 to March 2001. The contracts were the subject of competitive tenders and the two successful lead contractors were Interiors Plc and Levertons UK Ltd.

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Kim Howells: My Department's business plans for this year and for two years ahead do not include any building or refurbishment projects.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of her Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Kim Howells: The normal retirement age for all staff in my Department is 60. In the Royal Parks Agency (the Department's only Executive Agency), the normal retirement age is also 60, but staff may be allowed to stay beyond 60 where
	they have reserved rights to do so; or
	they have specialist skills or expertise and are not immediately replaceable; or
	it is in the short-term interest of the Agency.
	The non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department have considerable discretion to determine the terms and conditions of their employees, and the Department does not hold details centrally. Their retirement arrangements, however, are analogous to those of the Department.

Network Z Radio

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the proposed Network Z radio services on existing commercial provision.

Kim Howells: In accordance with the guidelines published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, advice was sought from the Department's legal advisers, finance advisers and economists, and others within and outside the Department, including the Office of Fair Trading. This advice, along with the BBC's application and information contained in the consultation responses, was taken into account by the Secretary of State in making her assessment.

Network Z Radio

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information the BBC furnished her, in its application to establish Network Z, about the views of (a) the BBC's legal, finance and policy advisers, (b) the Executive Committee and (c) the Board of Governors; and on what dates they were given.

Kim Howells: In its application to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport requesting approval to launch new digital services, dated 9 January 2001, the BBC confirmed that the proposals had received the approval of the BBC's legal, regulatory, and policy advisers and were approved by the Executive Committee on 5 December 2000 and by the Board of Governors on 14 December 2000. The BBC Chairman wrote to my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 4 April 2001 reiterating the views of the BBC governors. This letter, together with other correspondence between the Department and the BBC, was placed in the Libraries of both Houses in July.

Premier Christian Radio

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Government's plans to ensure that Premier Christian Radio is able to apply for a new licence.

Kim Howells: The Radio Authority has recently readvertised the analogue licence which Premier Christian Radio hold until June 2003. It is for Premier Christian Radio to decide if it wishes to reapply.

Foot and Mouth

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to make funds available to organisations representing the rural tourist industry to publicise the lifting of restrictions caused by the foot and mouth crisis.

Kim Howells: Although no specific funds were given to organisations representing the rural tourist industry, of the £3.8 million provided to the English Tourism Council (ETC) on 6 April for advertising and promotion, £2 million was given directly to the English Regional Tourist Boards (RTBs). This is in addition to the ETC's annual grant-in-aid allocation of £9.6 million, approximately half of which is allocated to the regions, including the RTBs. The RTBs also gained access to £50 million made available through the rural recovery fund.

Foot and Mouth

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value of financial assistance from Government to the tourist industry in England has been since the start of the foot and mouth crisis.

Kim Howells: Since the start of the outbreak, the Government have provided additional funds of £3.8 million to the English Tourism Council and £14.2 million to the British Tourist Authority for marketing and promotion.
	In total, the Government have allocated in excess of £300 million in aid to small rural businesses, mainly in the tourism sector. This includes £50 million for the business recovery fund, £22 million for hardship rate relief, £120 million in loans available under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme and £4 million to help authorities re-open pathways. Many towns hit by foot and mouth are also included in a £100 million market town regeneration scheme. All these measures bring enormous benefits to the rural tourism industry.

Foot and Mouth

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the loss in revenue to the tourist industry in England as a result of foot and mouth since the start of the outbreak.

Kim Howells: Our best estimate to date is that the loss of revenue in 2001–2002 by the English tourism industry is likely to be about £3.3 billion in "value added" terms over the 8-month period under consideration (March to October). We will continue to revise the model on which this estimate is based in the light of the latest available data.

Foot and Mouth

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much expenditure was incurred by her Department in (a) publicising the closure of rural tourism areas during the foot and mouth crisis and (b) publicising the subsequent lifting of restrictions.

Kim Howells: No specific funding was provided by the DCMS for publicising the closure and subsequent lifting of restrictions in the countryside. However, the ETC and BTA have used additional funding to provide information on what attractions are open to prospective visitors through websites and information centres, as part of their overall marketing strategies.

Foot and Mouth

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department is taking to reverse the impression that tourist areas formally restricted because of foot and mouth, and now re-opened, are still closed.

Kim Howells: At the regional, national and international level, new tourist websites and visitor hotlines have provided reassurance and a clear picture that Britain is open. Leaflet information has also proved successful. Much of the £18 million in additional funding provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and English Tourist Council (ETC) has been used in strategic advertising and marketing campaigns to motivate potential customers and provide information on what is open. Furthermore, DCMS Ministers attended a number of high-profile domestic events to increase rural tourism's exposure and counter myth.

School Terms

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if her Department was consulted by the then Department for Education and Employment on the implications for the tourism industry of proposed changes in the duration and number of school terms.

Kim Howells: This Department has not been consulted by the Department for Education and Employment, or its successor, on the implications for the tourism industry of proposed changes in the duration and number of school terms. Last year the Local Government Association established the Independent Commission on the Organisation of the School Year, whose report "Rhythms of Schooling" was published in September 2000. The Commission's remit was to consider the wide-ranging effects of current arrangements and it made various recommendations, including about the duration and number of school terms. It has since received feedback from an extensive consultation and published its response earlier this month. Tourism bodies have been involved throughout the process and were included among the consultees, as was the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Decisions about the number, length and dates of school terms and holidays are taken by each local education authority and not by central Government, and we have no plans to change this. The Government will look carefully at the LGA's final recommendations (expected in December). However, we would need to be convinced that there was widely based support for a change before considering legislating to impose a new uniform format.

Regional Theatres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her policy towards the maintenance of regional theatres in England.

Kim Howells: This remains a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. The Arts Council announced significant additional funding for the wider theatre sector in March and by 2002–04 the amount spent on theatre by the funding system in England will increase to £70 million. 65 per cent. of the additional funding will go to regional producing theatres.

Jackpot Machines

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will make a statement about proposals by the Gaming Board to remove jackpot machines from members' social clubs;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the consequences for social clubs of proposed regulations to remove jackpot gaming machines.

Richard Caborn: The independent Gambling Review Body, whose report we published on 17 July, recommended that gaming machines in private clubs which were not casinos or bingo clubs should have a maximum prize of £25 instead of £250 as at present. All the Review Body's recommendations are now subject to public consultation, which will run until 31 October. Until the consultation process has been completed we are not in a position to make an informed assessment of the financial and other consequences for clubs; and we do not propose to take decisions on the report before then.

Concessionary TV Licences

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the timetable is for granting concessionary television licences to sheltered and community accommodation.

Kim Howells: Under the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary television licence scheme, a £5 concessionary fee is already available for disabled people and retired people aged 60 or over living in residential or nursing homes or in sheltered housing which meets specific qualifying criteria. As announced on 9 April this year, we propose to introduce preserved rights to this concession for existing beneficiaries, in cases where changes to the social mix or the level of warden cover mean that the accommodation no longer meets the full qualifying criteria. Consultations between officials and the BBC about the necessary amendments to the television licence fee regulations are currently underway. We intend to bring forward these amendments as soon as we can but it is important that in doing so we do not create any new anomalies or unnecessary administrative burdens.

London Weighting

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the total value of London weighting and London living allowances for her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My Department consolidated London weighting into basic pay in November 1996. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the total value of this weighting.

Correspondence

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was, for each year since 1995, 
	(1)  the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords.

Tessa Jowell: The effective handling of correspondence and PQs is an issue to which I, and ministerial colleagues, attach great importance.
	General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures for 2000 were published on 6 April 2001 Official Report, columns 324–28W and on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.
	Since 1 May 1997 my Department has answered 1,735 written questions tabled by hon. Members and noble Lords. In the House of Commons, 35 per cent. of named day questions were answered on the day specified and 53 per cent. of ordinary written questions were answered within one week of being tabled. In another place, 57 per cent. questions tabled by noble Lords were answered within two weeks of being tabled.

Departmental Spending

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by her Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by her Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Kim Howells: My Department consists of less than 500 persons located in four Central London buildings. The total space occupied is 11,096 square metres. Occupation cost for the buildings in 2000–01 was £5,266,550 providing an average cost per square metre of £474.62. This cost will vary year on year dependent upon rates, utility costs and building maintenance.

OFCOM

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in the establishment of OFCOM.

Kim Howells: The Government have introduced the Office of Communications Bill to set up OFCOM, who will then prepare themselves to receive regulatory functions under the subsequent Communications Bill. My Department, the Department of Trade and Industry and the five existing regulators are planning the practical steps that will be necessary and a report on how this should be done was published last week.

World Athletics Championships

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what spectator capacity a stadium requires in order to meet the IAAF's specifications for a standard capable of hosting the World Athletics Championship.

Tessa Jowell: The IAAF had previously advised UK Athletics that the stadium for the World Athletics Championships would need to be able to seat at least 43,000 spectators.

World Athletics Championships

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the accommodation requirements are for (a) athletes and (b) officials in a city in order to meet the IAAF's specifications for a standard capable of hosting the World Athletics Championship.

Tessa Jowell: These are set out Appendix I of the IAAF guidelines for the IAAF World Athletics Championships. I have sent the hon. Gentleman a copy and placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.

World Athletics Championships

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what analysis her Department has made of Sheffield's transport facilities.

Tessa Jowell: My Department has discussed transport issues relating to the 2005 World Championships with Sport England, Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield City Trust. Sheffield City Council has advised that the infrastructure surrounding the Don Valley Stadium already enables up to 50,000 people to attend concerts at the Stadium. If the IAAF accepts our proposal for Sheffield to stage the 2005 World Athletics Championships, detailed work will be needed to assess what, if any, further transport improvements need to be made to facilitate the staging of the event.

World Athletics Championships

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when it became Government policy to support the staging of the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Sheffield.

Tessa Jowell: The decision to support the staging of the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Sheffield was made on 4 October, after discussions with UK Athletics and Sport England.

World Athletics Championships

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions (a) ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with the IAAF on the prospect of staging the 2005 World Athletics Championships.

Tessa Jowell: It has been my priority to keep the IAAF fully informed at every stage about the review of the UK's arrangements for the 2005 World Athletics Championships. My Department has had the following contact with the IAAF since 7 June:
	2 July. I spoke to Istvan Gyulai, General Secretary of the IAAF by telephone to inform him that Sport England had commissioned Patrick Carter to review the Lee Valley project and to advise him that the Government were committed to staging the 2005 World Athletics Championships.
	6 August. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport met Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, and Istvan Gyulai at the World Athletics Championships in Edmonton.
	25 September. At my request, a senior DCMS official spoke to Istvan Gyulai to inform him that the Government were considering Patrick Carter's report and that we would advise him of the position as soon as the Government, Sport England and UK Athletics had reached a conclusion on staging the World Athletics Championships.
	4 October. Dave Moorcroft, Chief Executive of UK Athletics and I spoke to Lamine Diack and Istvan Gyulai by telephone to tell him of our decision that Lee Valley was not viable and to say that we wanted to suggest to the IAAF that the Championships be switched to Sheffield.
	5 October. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and I met Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, Istvan Gyulai and Robert Stimpson, IAAF Treasurer. This meeting was also attended by David Hemrey and Dave Moorcroft from UK Athletics, Patrick Carter and by officials from DCMS and Sport England.

National Stadium

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) Lottery and (b) Treasury money has been spent on the project to build a national athletics stadium at Picketts Lock.

Tessa Jowell: Sport England has spent £1.57 million on the development of the National Athletics Centre project. All of this is from the lottery sports fund. No Exchequer money has been spent to develop the project.

National Stadium

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock was commissioned;
	(2)  when she will publish the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock;
	(3)  when she received the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock.

Tessa Jowell: I announced the review of National Stadium project on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 37W. Sport England commissioned the review of the Lee Valley National Athletics Centre project on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 79W.
	I received copies of both reports on 31 August 2001.
	The Lee Valley Report was published by Sport England on 4 October. The Government have no current plans to publish Patrick Carter's report on the National Stadium as this would compromise the discussions that Patrick Carter is currently having with the Football Association.

National Stadium

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is her policy on support for 
	(1)  a single national stadium for (a) football, (b) rugby and (c) athletics;
	(2)  national stadia for (a) football, (b) rugby and (c) athletics.

Tessa Jowell: The Government continue to be guided by the governing bodies of sport as to the merits of a national stadium for their respective sports. We fully support the Football Association's aspiration to develop a national stadium and are committed to ensuring that UK Athletics has a robust legacy to enable the sport to invest and grow in the longer term. It is for UK Athletics to determine whether this legacy should include a National Athletics Centre and to discuss any future plans with Sport England to ensure such aspirations are viable and sustainable over the longer term.

Tourism Incentive Group

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress of the Tourism Incentive Group.

Kim Howells: In July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State asked the English Tourism Council (ETC) to consult senior tourism industry leaders and propose a clear programme for modernising and restructuring the industry, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport could then consider as a basis for entering into partnership and investing in reform. The ETC set up the Tourism Initiative Group and sent its report to the Secretary of State on 10 September—it made various recommendations under four key areas: product quality, service and productivity, data, and marketing. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering that report and held a seminar on 11 and 12 September to discuss with senior tourism industry and public body representatives how best to take forward the ideas in the Tourism Initiative Group report and, in particular, what role the industry itself should play.

BBC Chairman

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the membership of the Advisory Panel which is considering applications for the chairmanship of the BBC.

Kim Howells: holding answer 19 July 2001
	No. It is not our policy to publish the names of advisory panel members. This is to avoid the risk of their being subjected to unwarranted pressure at any stage of the process. The selection process for all public appointments follows the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, and requires an independent assessor on each advisory panel. This practice has been in place since the introduction of an independent element into the appointments process in 1996.

PRIME MINISTER

Global Temperatures and Rainfall

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what estimates he has made of the percentage increase in global temperatures and rainfall by 2100; and if he will make a statement on the recent discussions he has had on these issues with G7 leaders.

Tony Blair: The recent international scientific assessment of climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that global temperatures are expected to rise by between 1.4oC and 5.8oC over the period 1990 to 2100. Although global precipitation is expected to increase overall there is still considerable scientific uncertainty over future regional precipitation changes.
	I discussed the subject of climate change and the Kyoto protocol with the other G7 leaders and President Putin at the G8 summit in Genoa in July. We agreed on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and committed ourselves to working together to meet this common objective.

Government Policy (Presentation)

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate how much time he spent on dealing with issues of presentation of Government policy in the media in the last 12 months.

Tony Blair: Issues of presentation are a matter for the director of strategy and communication and the Prime Minister's official spokesman. I discuss these issues with them as required.

Global Population

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of global population by 2050; how many people there will be affected by (a) drought and (b) flooding; how many are so affected now; and if he will make a statement on his recent discussions on these issues with G7 leaders.

Tony Blair: The UN, in its document "State of the world population 2001", estimates that the world population will increase to 9.3 billion by 2050. At present, around 1 billion people are affected by drought and desertification. There are no independent estimates for this figure in 2050. There are no reliable figures for the total population affected by flooding as the numbers vary quite considerably from year to year.
	I discussed the subject of climate change and the Kyoto protocol with the other G7 leaders and President Putin at the G8 summit in Genoa in July.

Terrorist Attacks

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what preparations he has made to defend key UK landmarks in the light of recent terrorist attacks in the USA; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: We have no intelligence of a specific threat to the UK. In the light of the events in the USA on 11 September, plans are being reviewed and guidance updated. Every reasonable measure of internal security is being taken. All the necessary authorities are involved.

Life Peers

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister how many life peers have been created since 1 May 1997; and how many of those were nominated by him in his capacity as leader of the Labour Party.

Tony Blair: Two hundred and sixty seven life peers have been created since 1 May 1997. This includes peers nominated by my predecessor but created after the 1997 general election. Of these, 116 have been appointed specifically either as Labour Ministers or as Labour working peers.

Prime Minister's Powers

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will introduce legislation to give statutory definition to the powers of the Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list those of his powers (a) granted to him by statute and (b) which can be exercised (i) without statutory authority and (ii) under royal prerogative.

Tony Blair: In addition to general references to the Prime Minister, there are more than 50 specific powers conferred on the office by statute, most in relation to appointments. The Prime Minister also holds the titles and duties of the Minister for the Civil Service and the First Lord of the Treasury.
	The Prime Minister's roles as the head of Her Majesty's Government, her principal adviser and as Chairman of the Cabinet are not, however, defined in legislation. These roles, including the exercise of powers under the royal prerogative, have evolved over many years, drawing on convention and usage, and it is not possible precisely to define them. The Government have no plans to introduce legislation in this area.

Departmental Changes

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on advising Parliament of changes in (a) Departmental structures and responsibilities and (b) ministerial changes.

Tony Blair: My policy is to keep Parliament informed about changes to departmental structures and ministerial responsibilities. The list of ministerial responsibilities is updated regularly and copies placed in the Library of the House.

Policy Advisers

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister for what reason his private secretaries have been redesignated as policy advisers; and what assessment he has made of the implications for civil service neutrality arising from this change.

Tony Blair: The No. 10 private office and policy unit have been merged to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of my office.
	All civil servants work in full accordance with the civil service code.

Lord Birt

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the qualities and achievements of Lord Birt which led him to appoint Lord Birt to the forward strategy unit.

Tony Blair: I appointed Lord Birt as unpaid strategy adviser because of his extensive experience of strategy formulation in both the public and private sectors.

Civil Service

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister when he will introduce a bill to define the role of the civil service.

Tony Blair: The Government are committed to maintaining a non-political permanent civil service. They have given a commitment to legislation for the civil service, which will be taken forward as and when a suitable opportunity arises.

Kyoto Protocol

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he held with the US President concerning the Kyoto protocol; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have discussed the Kyoto protocol with President Bush on a number of occasions, including at the EU-US summit in Gothenburg in June and at the G8 summit in Genoa in July. I made it clear that the Government remain committed to the Kyoto protocol and to the EU's aim of ratification and entry into force by 2002. We agreed that climate change is a serious issue and that we would continue to work together to address it.

National Missile Defence

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he held with the US President concerning National Missile Defence; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have discussed national missile defence (NMD) with President Bush on a number of occasions, and expect to continue to do so. I have made the Government's position clear on NMD and I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 4 July 2001, Official Report, column 256.

Afghanistan

Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister if the military intelligence that has been shared with key partners in the military alliance for action in Afghanistan has been shared with the UN Secretary-General.

Tony Blair: We cannot comment in detail on intelligence matters, but all necessary information is being shared with coalition partners.

Tourism (Departmental Responsibility)

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister for what reason responsibility for the tourism industry is allocated to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and for what reason this responsibility is exercised at Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State level.

Tony Blair: Tourism fits well with the wider responsibilities of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. These include areas such as the historic environment, museums and galleries, sport and the arts which attract tourists to come to the United Kingdom.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has overall responsibility for the tourism industry. Following normal Government practice, day-to- day responsibility has been delegated to the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Prime Minister prior to his decision on the nature and terms of reference of an inquiry into foot and mouth disease, if he will consult (a) parish, district and county councils in affected areas, (b) representatives of the tourist industry, (c) animal welfare organisations, (d) the NFU, CLA and other farming organisations and (e) hon. Members.

Tony Blair: On 9 August I announced three independent inquiries into the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
	The inquiries, which will report to me and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are:
	an inquiry into the lessons to be learned from the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2001 and the way the Government should handle any future major animal disease outbreak, to be chaired by Dr. Iain Anderson;
	a scientific review by the Royal Society of questions relating to the transmission, prevention and control of the epidemic of infectious disease in livestock, committee to be chaired by Sir Brian Follett FRS; and
	a policy commission on the future of farming and food to be chaired by Sir Don Curry.
	The chairs of the three inquiries will set their own working methods, working in an open and inclusive manner involving a wide range of stakeholders.

G8 Summit

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the G8 summit.

Tony Blair: I met my G8 colleagues in Genoa from 20 to 22 July. The summit was an important opportunity to discuss a wide range of international issues. The conclusions of the summit were placed in the Libraries of the House at the time.
	For the United Kingdom, the three key results of the summit were the commitment to a new trade round, the Genoa plan for Africa and the global health fund.
	The Government believe that a new trade round would provide significant economic benefits. The European Commission has estimated that a truly liberalising new round could boost the world economy by $400 billion a year. Of this, between $100 million and $150 billion could go to developing countries.
	In Genoa, we met the leaders of five African countries, as well as representatives of Latin America and Asia. Their priorities are similar to those of the G8—ending conflict, increasing trade and foreign investment, improving governance, health and education, implementing debt relief and closing the digital divide.
	We welcomed the readiness among African leaders to take responsibility for resolving the problems in their continent. We agreed to appoint senior personal representatives to meet the leaders of the new African initiative, and to produce a plan of action between now and next year's summit in Canada.
	On poverty reduction for developing countries, the G8 committed over $1.3 billion to a new global health fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and welcomed a further $500 million pledged by other partners. We shall work with the United Nations and other stakeholders to make sure the fund is up and running by the end of this year. The UK Government have already pledged $200 million to the health fund.
	At the conclusion of the summit, my G8 colleagues and I accepted the invitation of the Canadian Prime Minister to meet next year on 26–28 June in Kananaskis, Alberta.

Argentina

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his visit to Argentina.

Tony Blair: I visited Argentina on 1 August and had talks with President de la Rua. Our discussions covered international trade and investment issues, the Argentine economy, climate change and UK/Argentine bilateral relations. President de la Rua and I reaffirmed our commitment to continue our dialogue on issues of common interest.

Falkland Islands

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the representations and discussions he has had since 19 July relating to the status of the Falkland Islands.

Tony Blair: I met President de la Rua on 1 August. We both reaffirmed our Governments' commitment to the joint statement of July 1999, and to continue our dialogue on issues of common interest. This does not affect our sovereignty of the Falkland Islands or our commitment to the Islanders' rights to determine their own future. There will be no change in the status of the Islands unless that is the wish of the Islanders themselves.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b)  letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The information requested is not available in the manner requested.
	The effective handling of correspondence and PQs is an issue to which I, and ministerial colleagues, attach great importance. I take an active interest in the way my office deals with all letters sent to me. I receive approximately 500,000 items of post a year compared with an estimated 25,000 items received annually six years ago. My office takes action on all letters received within 15 working days.
	General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and an overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures for 2000 were published on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324–28W and on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.
	My office aims to answer all ordinary written parliamentary questions within five working days, and named day written parliamentary questions on the day named.
	I have answered 110 written parliamentary questions this Session, providing substantive answers for 88 per cent. of them on time.

Ministerial Visits

Alex Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying Ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by Ministers in his Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) Ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non-commercial flights were on each occasion; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The rules on the use of non-commercial flights for Ministers visits overseas are the same as those that have applied under successive Administrations and are set out in full in "Travel by Ministers". A copy is in the Library of the House.
	Lists of overseas visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing more than £500 during the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2001, together with the cost of all Ministers visits overseas, were placed in the Library of the House and published in the Official Report on 17 June 1999, columns 196–97W; on 28 July 2000, column 969W; and on 20 July 2001, column 467W.

Cruse Bereavement Care

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister what correspondence he has had with Cruse Bereavement Care in the past four weeks; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The right hon. Member for South-West Surrey has written to my office about the work of Cruse Bereavement Care.
	I will be writing to Mike Pearson, Chairman of Cruse Bereavement Care, this week to thank him for the outstanding way that Cruse has responded to the tragic events of 11 September in the US. During my recent visit to New York, I was very impressed by what I heard about the Cruse team's tireless efforts. Their staff both here and in New York have provided hope and comfort to many families.

Chechnya (Human Rights)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he made to President Putin concerning human rights abuses in Chechnya during his recent visit to Russia.

Tony Blair: I have discussed Chechnya with President Putin on various occasions and last did so in Moscow on 4 October.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment Zones

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of employment zones in reducing unemployment.

Malcolm Wicks: Employment zones are one of a range of initiatives we have introduced to help reduce unemployment. The 15 employment zones are performing well and have already helped nearly 13,000 people move into work. We are currently evaluating the zones before deciding how to take the initiative further.

Benefit Fraud

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the amount of money lost in benefit fraud in 2000–01.

Alistair Darling: In our 1999 paper "Safeguarding Social Security" we estimated that £2 billion was lost annually due to confirmable benefit fraud.
	We have set firm targets to halve the amount of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by 2006. We have already met our first milestone, of a 10 per cent. reduction, 18 months ahead of schedule.

Benefit Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to set targets for reducing benefit fraud in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: This year we have introduced for the first time a continuous measure of the level of Housing Benefit fraud. We will consider the appropriateness and scope for setting targets for reducing the level of incorrectness in Housing Benefit in the light of the results of this exercise.

Social Deprivation

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help people back into work in areas of acute social deprivation.

Nick Brown: Our welfare to work initiatives are helping people into work in all parts of the country. We have also introduced Action Teams for Jobs and employment zones which are helping people in the most deprived areas. Today we are increasing the number of Action Teams from 40 to 53, and teams will now run until March 2004.

Carers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when new carers over the age of 65 will be eligible to apply for carers' benefits.

Maria Eagle: We propose to make this change by Regulatory Reform Order. The necessary consultation ends today. We will lay the Order as soon as practicable and it will be considered by the Deregulation Committee thereafter. Following a period of 60 days, it will be laid before the House using the Superaffirmative Procedure. A similar procedure will be followed in the other place.

Disability Benefit Forms

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to simplify benefit application forms, with particular reference to benefits for people with disabilities.

Maria Eagle: We are indeed improving the existing disability claim forms. Earlier this year we were able to reduce the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance claim packs by up to 9 pages without losing any essential information. We are now looking at what further can be done to simplify both the claim forms themselves and the overall claiming process.
	We are also introducing a shorter and simpler Minimum Income Guarantee form from the end of this month, and we are investing £2 billion over the next three years to modernise radically the service we provide to our customers so they only have to provide the same information once.

Mothers

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to ease the transition from welfare to work for mothers with young children.

Nick Brown: We have introduced a wide range of help for mothers with young children making the move from welfare to work.
	Over 90 per cent. of the participants in the new deals for partners and lone parents are women, benefiting from advice and support in looking for work, training and childcare. We have improved the extended payments of housing and council tax benefit scheme, and introduced extended mortgage payments and the lone parents benefit run-on. These measures are supported by the National Childcare Strategy and the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Children's Tax Credit.
	The introduction of Jobcentre Plus will provide those mothers claiming benefits with young children with the opportunity to find out about the support available to help them make the move into work.

State Benefits (Collection)

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his plans to make it easier for pensioners to collect their state benefits through private bank accounts.

Ian McCartney: Most new pensioners (56 per cent.) already opt to have payment made directly into their bank/building society accounts, and find the process straightforward and convenient.
	Paying benefits directly into bank accounts will become the normal method of payment from 2003. To support that, we will implement a number of improvements to our present systems to make it simpler for existing customers to switch. We will back up these enhancements with an effective publicity campaign, and where it is required we will also provide individual claimants with advice on opening and operating a bank account.
	In addition we have made it clear that people will still be able to collect their pension weekly in cash from post offices. The Post Office is developing Universal Banking Services which will enable this to happen.

Jobcentre Plus

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve co-ordination between the benefits system and the support given to help people find work.

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase the amount of personal advice available to unemployed people at jobcentres.

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to enable the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service to work more closely together.

Nick Brown: The new Jobcentre Plus service will draw together the Employment Service and the parts of the Benefits Agency which support people of working age. It will deliver a single integrated service with a clear focus on work to benefit claimants of working age and to employers.
	Jobcentre Plus will come into being at the end of this financial year. At the same time, the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service will cease to exist.
	To demonstrate the improved and more work-focused service we intend to offer in Jobcentre Plus, we are putting in place around 50 "pathfinder" offices throughout the country. In parallel, we are introducing work-focused interviews for all claimants of working age in 39 additional sites adjacent to the pathfinders.

Pensioners' Benefits

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of GDP has been spent on pensioners' benefits on average since 1997.

Ian McCartney: Over the period there has been sustained economic growth and our spending on pensioners, now some 5.5 per cent. of GDP, has ensured that all pensioners have shared fully in the rising wealth of the nation.
	The proportions for each year since 1996–97 are provided in the table:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1996–97 5.3 
			 1997–98 5.2 
			 1998–99 5.1 
			 1999–2000 5.2 
			 2000–01 5.3 
			 2001–02 5.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The information in the table compares social security expenditure in Great Britain with the most recent estimate of Gross Domestic Product issued by National Statistics (24 September 2001).
	2. Benefits included are: Retirement Pension (Basic and Additional), Income Support/Minimum Income Guarantee, Winter Fuel Payment, Concessionary TV licence, Non-contributory Retirement Pension, Christmas Bonus, and Housing/Council Tax Benefit and Social Fund paid to people aged 60 or over.

Winter Fuel Payment

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many eligible men have not received backdated Winter Fuel Payments in respect of previous years.

Ian McCartney: To date we have received and paid over 1 million retrospective Winter Fuel Payment claims for the first three years of the scheme: 1997–98; 1998–99 and 1999–2000. A possible 1.9 million people, the large majority of whom are men, could be eligible for a backdated payment in respect of these years. However, there are no time limits on claiming payments for these winters and we continue to receive and pay claims.
	From April 2000 an information campaign ran to ensure that existing and potential customers knew about changes to the scheme and what, if anything, they needed to do to get a payment. It is up to the individual to choose whether to claim payments for past winters. There is no time limit on claiming payments for previous years of the scheme. This year, the Winter Fuel Payment information campaign began in June and will continue throughout the year.

Winter Fuel Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason he has brought forward the qualifying week for the 2001 Winter Fuel Payment.

Ian McCartney: From the winter of 1999–2000, the qualifying week was fixed at the week beginning with the third Monday in September. The qualifying week for that winter was 20 to 26 September 1999. The qualifying week for last winter, 2000–01, was 18 to 24 September, and for this winter it was 17 to 23 September. Next winter, 2002–03, the qualifying week will be 16 to 22 September.

Jobseekers

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to enable the hardest-to-help jobless people find work.

Nick Brown: We have introduced a wide range of New Deals which help disadvantaged groups to move from welfare into work. These have helped well over half a million people move into work, and given thousands more the skills and confidence to compete more effectively in the labour market.
	We are further improving the services available for the hardest to help, such as a £40 million package of help for unemployed drug mis-users, and a further package for a wider group including ex-offenders and the homeless.
	We have also introduced Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones which are targeting the most deprived areas. Between them they have already helped over 26,000 people into jobs. We are increasing the number of Action Teams from 40 to 53 this month, and to 63 in January 2002. We have also extended Employment Zones until March 2003.

Jobseekers

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help people in deprived areas in West Yorkshire find work.

Nick Brown: Our welfare to work initiatives have helped people into work in all parts of the country. Our New Deals have been a success, playing an important part in reducing claimant unemployment in West Yorkshire by almost 40 per cent. since 1997.
	We are building on that success, and with the introduction of Jobcentre Plus we will offer a flexible, individual service for every person of working age on benefit.

Pensioners (Long-term Care)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the incomes of pensioners while they are in long-term hospital care.

Ian McCartney: Most benefit recipients, including Retirement Pensioners, have no reduction in their benefits for the first six weeks of a spell in hospital. There is a limited reduction in benefits after six weeks in hospital and a further reduction after 52 weeks in hospital. These rules have been applied with only minor modifications since the introduction of the National Insurance scheme over 50 years ago.

Child Poverty

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made with the Government's commitment to reduce child poverty by half.

Malcolm Wicks: Details of the progress we are making in tackling child poverty can be found in our third annual report on poverty and social exclusion, Opportunity for All—making progress (CM 5260), published on 19 September.
	This year's report demonstrates that we have continued to make real improvements, improving the lives, prospects, and opportunities of children and young people. Over the past four years, we have taken action to raise the incomes of families, especially for those on the lowest incomes. To help children out of poverty, we have provided more support than ever before to enable parents to work, and ensure that they are better off in work.
	We have introduced a range of tax and benefit reforms to give help at the time when families need it most, whether they are in work or not. The additional resources we are delivering for education and health are helping to reduce the chances of poverty and social exclusion in the longer term. We have also introduced substantial improvements in the system for children and teenagers who are vulnerable, such as children in care, and teenage parents.
	Over the next few years we will continue to step up our efforts, including the implementation of major reforms to the child support system, and the introduction of an integrated child credit.

Unemployment (Over-50s)

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help unemployed people over 50 years of age back into work.

Nick Brown: The employment rate of older workers is up for the fourth year running, by 1.3 percentage points on last year's figures. In 2001–02 our range of New Deals, including New Deal 50 plus, New Deal 25 plus and New Deal for Disabled People, will help some 50,000 over-50s into employment.

World Economies

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the effect on employment in the UK of the state of the world and UK economies.

Nick Brown: UK GDP continues to grow steadily, bolstered by strong domestic demand, in spite of recent weakness in the world economy. Employment is at record levels and rising, while unemployment is at its lowest for around 25 years.
	Although no country can insulate itself from world events, prudent monetary and fiscal policies, with inflation low and borrowing under control, mean that the economy is better placed than in the past to withstand global shocks.
	While we do not make forecasts of employment and unemployment, an assessment will be made of economic and labour market developments, incorporating both UK and international economic developments, in the Treasury autumn pre-Budget report.

Women (Return to Work)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies she has undertaken to identify obstacles facing women returning to work.

Nick Brown: A number of studies have helped inform us about the obstacles faced by women entering the labour market. These include longitudinal studies such as the "Survey of Families with Children", conducted by the Policy Studies Institute and the National Centre for Social Research, and a study of lone parent families conducted by the Policy Studies Institute.

Stakeholder Pensions

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what categories of people it will be advantageous to take out a stakeholder pension.

Ian McCartney: The Government have introduced stakeholder pensions as part of our long-term reforms to ensure that everyone has the chance to save for a decent income in retirement. They provide a new pension option for moderate and higher earners who do not have access to a good occupational scheme, or a good group personal pension with an employer contributing.
	The suitability of a stakeholder pension for any individual is a matter for them to decide in the light of their particular circumstances. Figures from the insurance industry show that in the first four months since their introduction almost 300,000 people had taken out stakeholder pensions.

Stakeholder Pensions

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if those who take out a stakeholder pension will be compelled to use their savings to purchase an annuity at the age of 75 years.

Ian McCartney: Stakeholder pension funds will be subject to the same rules as other occupational and personal pensions. Where a pension scheme is not able to pay a pension, a fund must be used to buy an annuity by age 75 so as to guarantee a pension income throughout retirement.

Stakeholder Pensions

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to increase the take-up of stakeholder pensions by people on lower incomes.

Ian McCartney: Stakeholder pensions are primarily intended for those with moderate and higher earnings who do not have access to a good occupational pension, or a good personal pension with an employer contributing.
	From April next year, low earners will benefit through the Second State Pension, which reforms SERPS. Under these reforms, low earners will get at least double what they would have got from SERPS, while carers and disabled people with a broken work record will be entitled to a second-tier pension for the first time.
	A good second pension, building on the foundation of the basic State Pension, is the key to having a comfortable retirement.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of applications and approved applications for the Minimum Income Guarantee.

Ian McCartney: Since the beginning of the MIG take up campaign in May 2000 and up to the end of August 2001, 240,186 additional claims for the Minimum Income Guarantee have been received and processed. As a result, 118,242 people are receiving an extra £20 a week on average. This demonstrates that our policies are successfully providing extra money to those among the elderly who need it most. As at May 2001 there were 1,716,600 people in Great Britain receiving MIG.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost is to date of advertising the Minimum Income Guarantee for pensioners; how many applicants there have been; how many have been approved; and what estimate he has made of the total number of potential applicants.

Ian McCartney: Up to September 2001, some 121,159 pensions have received an extra £20 per week on average as a result of the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign. This demonstrates that our policies are successfully providing extra money to those among the elderly who need it most.
	Since the start of the MIG take-up campaign and up to the end of September 2001, 240,186 claims have been received. The total cost of advertising the MIG to date is just over £4 million.
	The latest available figures on the number of people entitled to the Minimum Income Guarantee who are not claiming pre-date the advertising campaign. These figures are included in the publication "Take-Up of Income Related Benefits: Statistics for 1999–2000", copies of which are available in the Library.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the annual cost of administration of (a) the Minimum Income Guarantee, (b) State Pensions, (c) Child Benefit and (d) the Working Families Tax Credit.

Ian McCartney: The Department now estimates and accounts for its expenditure in resource terms and by strategic objective. The cost of administering each of the Department's strategic objectives is reproduced in the 2001–02 Departmental Report at Table 4.
	The Working Families Tax Credit is administered by Inland Revenue. The cost to Inland Revenue of managing and paying tax credits for the six months to 31 March 2000 is shown in Note 3 to the trust account on page 83 of Inland Revenue's annual report for the year ending 31 March 2000, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Unemployment (Southend)

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the impact of his Department's policies on unemployment levels in (a) Southend, East and (b) Southend, West.

Nick Brown: Between May 1997 and August 2001, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell by 53 per cent. in Rochford and Southend, East, and 60 per cent. in Southend, West.

Ethnic Monitoring

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the need for ethnic monitoring of benefit claims and appeals.

Maria Eagle: The Government are fully committed to ensuring that all people, including those from ethnic minorities, receive the service they are entitled to from the benefit system.
	The Department for Work and Pensions does not currently collect information about the ethnic breakdown of customers. However, the BA does undertake a significant amount of work to ensure equality of access to benefits for all customers, including guidance for staff working with ethnic minority customers, provision of information in different languages and provision of interpreting services. Also, the DWP ethnic Minority Forum continues to meet at least annually, in order that we can hear and address the concerns of people who work with, and represent, ethnic minority customers.
	We are currently considering research on ethnic minority perceptions about benefit delivery. This research could help to build on our services that are specifically targeted at these customers.

Fixed-term Claims

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he expects the incapacity benefit case load to fall as a result of his announcement about fixed-term claims.

Malcolm Wicks: The changes we are introducing to Incapacity Benefit are designed to help people with poor health and disability to achieve their own aspirations by helping those who want to work to do so. People making new or repeat claims to Incapacity Benefit in Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices will therefore be required to attend a work focused interview to ensure they get the right level of support. These interviews will provide disabled people with the opportunity to discuss with their personal adviser the help, benefits and opportunities available to them. We will not force people with disabilities into work. People who are still eligible for Incapacity Benefit will get it and the existing exemptions from medical testing will not be removed.

Unclaimed Benefits

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of unclaimed benefits was in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland in each financial year from 1995.

Malcolm Wicks: Estimates of take-up in Great Britain are published in annual statistics on "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up", copies of which are in the Library of the House. Estimates are presented for Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) on a consistent basis for the years 1997–98, and 1998–99 and 1999–2000 and for Family Credit for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99. Estimates for the United Kingdom and for Scotland are not available.

Fibromyalgia

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many sufferers from fibromyalgia are receiving disability living allowance; how many of these are in receipt of this benefit for fibromyalgia only; and how many receive it for fibromyalgia in addition to other disabling conditions.

Maria Eagle: Information is not available in the form requested. The most relevant information available is that as of February this year about 170,000 people who were receiving Disability Living Allowance had a disease of the muscles, bones or joints as their main disabling condition. This information is based on a 5 per cent. data sample.

Disability Benefits

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out for Q3 and Q4 2000–01 and Q1 2001–02 (a) how many people were awaiting an appeal for (i) Disability Living and (ii) Attendance Allowance at the end of each quarter, (b) the average time it took to process the appeal and (c) the average time it took to process the original claim.

Maria Eagle: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
	
		Table 1 -- Live load of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance appeals current on the last day of each quarter
		
			 2000–01 Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance 
		
		
			 Quarter 3 4,558 35,830 
			 Quarter 4 3,521 30,601 
		
	
	The average clearance times from receipt of the appeal by the Benefits Agency to the Appeals Service issuing the tribunal's decision and the average waiting times from receipt of the appeal by the Benefits Agency to the first hearing by a tribunal for the third and fourth quarters of 2000–01 are shown in table 2. The figures for the first quarter of 2001–02 are not available.
	
		Table 2 -- Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance average clearance and waiting times, in weeks, for cases heard in the following quarters:
		
			 2000–01 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 
		
		
			 Clearance times(2)   
			 Attendance Allowance 27.4 27.1 
			 Disability Living Allowance 27.8 28.5 
			
			 Waiting times(3)   
			 Attendance Allowance 25.9 24.4 
			 Disability Living Allowance 24.8 24.2 
		
	
	(2) Clearance times shown apply from the date of lodgement with the Benefits Agency to the Appeals Service issuing the tribunal's decision. Thus delays caused by adjournments are included. The time taken for the Benefits Agency to implement the decision is not included.
	(3) Waiting times shown apply from the date of lodgement with the Benefits Agency to the date of the first tribunal hearing.
	(c) The average times taken to process Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance claims for the third and fourth quarters of 2000–01 and the first quarter of 2001–02 are shown in table 3.
	
		Table 3 -- Average time taken to process Disability Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) claims, in days, for quarters:
		
			  Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance 
		
		
			 2000–01 Quarter 3 26.4 44.8 
			 Quarter 4 26.7 43.7 
			
			 2001–02 Quarter 1 26.0 42.2 
		
	
	Note:
	It is not possible to track individual claims through subsequent stages. The figures above therefore give the average actual clearance times for all new claims received in the relevant quarters.

Motability

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for vehicles were dealt with by Motability and of these how many were (a) for replacement vehicles, (b) successful new applications and (c) unsuccessful new applications; and how long, on average, Motability took to deal with each application in the above categories in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available in the format requested. The available information as it relates to the last 2 years is in the table.
	
		Applications for vehicles dealt with by motability
		
			 Year(4) Total dealt with For a replacement vehicle From a new customer Total declined(5) 
		
		
			 1999 157,816 83,024 74,792 10,795 
			 2000 153,817 86,913 66,904 7,741 
		
	
	(4) Figures relate to year ending 31 December
	(5) Includes both new and renewal cases where a customer has been declined or chosen not to proceed
	Motability operates within a three day Customer Charter for processing all successfully completed applications and achieved this deadline in the years shown.

Preserved Rights (Residential Homes)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in care homes are covered by preserved rights; and what estimates his Department has made of the number there will be on 1 April 2002.

Ian McCartney: It is estimated there are currently 67,200 residents in independent residential/nursing care homes who have preserved rights. It has been forecast there will be approximately 60,400 people in this position on 1 April 2002.

Pension Fund Surpluses

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform the regulatory and legislative framework regarding the distribution of pension fund surpluses; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The recently published Myners Report recommends that the Law Commission should be asked to review whether the objective of maximum clarity over ownership of the surplus can be achieved through legal change. The Chancellor's and my officials are currently exploring the matter with the Law Commission.

TREASURY

Public Service Agreements

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) of 10 July 2001, Official Report, column 501W on public service agreements, what the (a) percentage and (b) absolute savings from PFI projects would have been if all projects examined up until June had been examined by the NAO; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Information of this nature, which would require judgments to be made about the potential savings and VFM improvements available from very different types of projects across government, is not held centrally. However, a great deal of central guidance and support are available to Departments contemplating the use of PFI—from the Treasury, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and Partnerships UK (PUK). This draws upon reports by the National Audit Office and Parliamentary Select Committees.
	As with other elements of their business, it remains the responsibility of individual Departments and agencies to ensure that value for money for the taxpayer is demonstrated before any PFI deal is signed. In carrying out investment and option appraisals, Departments are required to follow Treasury guidance contained in the Green Book "Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government". For PFI deals, Departments are also required to construct a Public Sector Comparator (PSC), which is a costed estimate based on the assumption that the required service would be acquired through conventional funding. Guidance on PCSs is contained in Policy Statement No.2: Public Sector Comparators and Value for Money, and Technical Note 5: How to construct a Public Sector Comparator. The latter notes that the PSC should not be regarded as a pass/fail test, but as a quantitative way of informing judgment. These documents and a list of signed PFI deals are available in the Library of the House and are accessible on the website of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) www.ogc.gov.uk.
	By June 2001 some 450 PFI deals had been signed by central, regional and local government authorities in the United Kingdom. To date the NAO has published 20 value for money reports on PPP/PFI deals. A list of these reports is available on the NAO website www.nao.gov.uk.
	As evidence is gained of projects' progression through the OGC gateway process, which is designed to assist central civil departments in the successful delivery of projects (whether PFI or not), this will increasingly inform central data collection, analysis and guidance. The OGC will also draw upon UK's work to increase central knowledge of PFI and other PPP projects.

Independent Insurance Company

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to assist those companies who were policyholders of the Independent Insurance Company and who face liquidation as a result of the losses sustained by the collapse of the Independent Insurance Company;
	(2)  if he will establish a scheme to compensate those policyholders of independent insurance companies not protected by the Policyholders Protection Board, for losses sustained by them as a result of regulatory failure.

Ruth Kelly: The Serious Fraud Office is investigating the events at the Independent Insurance Company, following a referral by the Financial Services Authority 18 June. The Government will not pre-judge the outcome of this investigation.
	The Government are sympathetic to all policyholders who face potential hardship as a result of the provisional liquidation of Independent Insurance. I understand that the provisional liquidators are continuing to go through the process of identifying all policyholders and agreeing claims where appropriate. Many of those claims will be covered by the Policyholders Protection Board. Claims by businesses, except for claims under compulsory insurance policies, will generally rank with other creditors of the company to be paid in due course by the provisional liquidator to the extent that funds are available.

Independent Insurance Company

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential conflict of interests faced by Herbert Smith Solicitors in their capacities as solicitors to the (a) Independent Insurance Company, (b) Policyholders Protection Board and (c) provisional liquidators of the Independent Insurance Company.

Ruth Kelly: Any potential conflict of interest faced by solicitors in this case would be a matter for the firm of solicitors involved and their clients. If a solicitor has acted where there is a conflict of interest, any complaint that might arise should be referred to the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, a separate organisation set up by the Law Society for that purpose.

Independent Insurance Company

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the FSA were informed that Independent Insurance Company's reinsurance contract of £278 million with Ireco was partially reinsured by Independent's wholly- owned subsidiary Novi Re.

Ruth Kelly: The discussions between the FSA, the Independent Insurance Company and other individual companies that it regulates are kept confidential between the parties concerned.

Child Trust Fund

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when details of the proposed Child Trust Fund and Saving Gateway will be published; and what consultation has been undertaken in respect of this.

Ruth Kelly: As announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the launch of the consultation on proposals for the Child Trust Fund and Saving Gateway in April, results of the consultation will be released at the time of the pre-Budget report this autumn, with further consultation to follow on more detailed proposals.
	A wide range of financial services providers, academics, charitable organisations and trade bodies have taken part in the consultation exercise to date, both in submitting views and in discussion. Further consultation will provide additional opportunity for these organisations and others to inform the development of the proposals.

Individual Savings Accounts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase there has been in the number of ISA holders who are (a) standard rate taxpayers and (b) higher rate taxpayers, over personal equity plan holders, since the introduction of ISAs.

Ruth Kelly: The table compares the number of ISA accounts of all kinds subscribed to in each of the first two years with the number of PEP plans taken out in their final year, 1998–99:
	
		
			  Thousand 
		
		
			 1998–99  
			 PEP General Plans taken out 3,860 
			 PEP Single Company Plans taken out 760 
			   
			 1999–2000  
			 Mini ISAs Stocks and Shares 1,278 
			 Cash 4,591 
			 Life Insurance 116 
			 Maxi ISAs 3,293 
			 2000–01  
			 Mini ISAs Stocks and Shares 1,623 
			 Cash 6,017 
			 Life Insurance 218 
			 Maxi ISAs 3,401 
		
	
	The information on number of holders analysed by marginal rate is not yet available. However, from the account numbers detailed it can be deduced that at most 4.6 million people subscribed to PEPs in 1998–99 and at least 9.4 million people subscribed to an ISA of some kind in 2000–01.

Voluntary Sports Clubs (Business Rates)

John Greenway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to assist voluntary sports clubs with their business rates.

Dawn Primarolo: Following the announcement in Budget 2001 of the Government's intention to consult on possible support through the tax system for community amateur sport's clubs, the Treasury is working closely with colleagues in other Government Departments and sports organisations, including Sport England, the Central Council for Physical Recreation and the National Playing Fields Association on the shape of possible relief. A consultation paper will be published later this year, which will invite comments on the proposed relief.
	In drawing up the proposals, the Government will take into full consideration which specific measures will benefit these sports clubs.

Stamp Duty

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue he raised in 2000–01 from property and land transactions in (a) the UK and (b) the Henley constituency as a result of the increases in stamp duty in the March 2000 Budget.

Ruth Kelly: The estimate of the additional amount collected in stamp duty from property transactions in 2000–01 compared to the amount collected if transactions had been charged at the pre-2000 budget rates was given in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 2000".

Stamp Duty

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish details of those areas of deprivation which will benefit from reductions in stamp duty on property.

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria will be used to designate coverage of the stamp duty exemption across the nations and regions of the UK.

Paul Boateng: The Government are working to identify how best to implement this exemption and an announcement will be made shortly. It is intended that the qualifying areas will be based on national indices of deprivation.

Stamp Duty

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) amount of stamp duty revenue collected was in accordance with the provisions of SI 1997/1156, on the transfer of units in unit trusts and shares in open ended investment companies in the 12 months up to 5 February 2000; and (b) amount of stamp duty reserve tax collected, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 19 to the Finance Act 1999 and SI 1997/1156, as amended by SI 1999/3261, on the surrender of units in unit trusts and shares in open ended investment companies in the 12 months from 6 February 2000.

Ruth Kelly: The total net duty on the transfer of units in unit trusts and shares in open ended investment companies is estimated at £43 million in the 12 months up to the end of January 2000 and amounted to £40 million in the 12 months up to the end of January 2001. A further breakdown into payments and repayments and stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax is given in the table.
	
		£ million 
		
			  Payments Repayments 
		
		
			 February 1999 to January 2000   
			 Stamp Duty 96.0 (6)53.4 
			 Stamp Duty Reserve — — 
			
			 February 2000 to January 2001   
			 Stamp Duty 13.7 11.3 
			 Stamp Duty Reserve 38.1 0.2 
		
	
	(6) Estimated from available data for 10 months of the period

Barnett Formula

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 425, to the right hon. Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West, (Joyce Quin), over what period English and Scottish identifiable public spending will converge as a result of the Barnett formula; by how much spending covered by the Barnett formula has converged since 1997; at what annual rate; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The Barnett formula provides the devolved Administrations with population-based shares of increases in comparable spending of UK Departments. Beyond the period covered by the 2000 spending review, changes in spending will depend on the outcome of future spending reviews. Information on public expenditure was published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses in April 2001. Any convergence would be affected by a number of factors, such as the rate of increase of comparable UK Departments' programmes, changes in population relativities, and changes in spending in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland not determined by the Barnett formula.

Barnett Formula

Joyce Quin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he expects convergence in public spending levels between Scotland and England to be obtained through the operation of the Barnett formula.

Andrew Smith: The Barnett formula provides the devolved Administrations with a population-based share of increases in comparable spending of UK Departments. The changes in spending for years beyond the 2000 spending review will depend on future spending reviews. Any convergence would be affected by a number of factors, such as the rate of increase of comparable UK Departments' programmes, changes in population relativities, and changes in spending in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland not determined by the Barnett formula.

Barnett Formula

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional resources that would be available to the Scottish block over each of the next three years if the Barnett formula had maintained relative spending in identifiable areas in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom in the same proportions as in 1997.

Andrew Smith: The Barnett formula provides the devolved Administrations with a population-based share of changes in planned spending in comparable UK Departments' spending. Identifiable total managed expenditure includes both devolved and non-devolved spending; the latter is not determined by the Barnett formula.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths in the last three years deep vein thrombosis has been a cause; and how many of these relate to air travel.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Kidney, dated 15 October 2001
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on the number of deaths in the previous three years for which Deep Vein Thrombosis was a cause and the number related to air travel. (6436)
	Most people who die as a result of Deep Vein Thrombosis do so as a result of Pulmonary Embolism. Either or both causes may be written on the death certificate. The figures for both causes combined in each of the three most recently available years are given in the table below. Figures are not available on the numbers related to air travel.
	
		Deaths where the underlying cause is Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism
		
			England and Wales 1997–1999  
			  1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Number of deaths 6,996 6,922 6,877 
		
	
	Note:
	Deaths are coded to the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision (ICD-9) 415.1 451.1 451.2 451.9 453.9

Migration

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, for the last 10 years for each nation of the UK, (a) inward and outward migration by (i) UK citizens and (ii) non-UK EU citizens, (b) the number and proportion of people moving (i) from and (ii) to (A) England, (B) Scotland, (C) Wales, (D) Northern Ireland, (E) Republic of Ireland, (F) the rest of the EU and (G) the rest of the world.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Annabelle Ewing, dated 15 October 2001
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question on migration to and from the constituent countries of the UK.
	Tables 1&2 show inward and outward international migration by UK and non-UK EU citizens for the last 10 calendar years for which data are available. Citizenship data are not available for internal migrants, i.e. those moving within the constituent countries of the UK.
	Table 3 shows the number of total migrants moving from and to England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland, rest of EU, and rest of the world. Data for the Irish Republic are not available separately and are included with the rest of the EU.
	Net migration for an individual country can be derived from the table by subtracting total outflow from a country, from total inflow, for example, the net figure for England for 1999 is 170.3 thousand i.e. the inflow (528.4 thousand) minus the outflow (358.1 thousand).
	
		Table 1: International migration to/from the countries of the UK by UK citizens 
		
			  To From  
			 Year  England  Scotland Wales Northern Ireland England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1990 98.2 4.7 1.7 1.0 121.3 14.9 2.8 1.9 
			 1991 97.8 11.9 4.9 2.3 122.4 12.6 4.4 1.8 
			 1992 90.8 5.5 1.9 0.5 115.7 14.8 5.3 2.5 
			 1993 82.7 7.5 1.3 0.1 117.5 9.1 3.5 0.9 
			 1994 99.6 16.5 1.2 0.6 101.5 9.5 2.8 0.5 
			 1995 81.2 5.6 4.0 0.5 107.8 8.0 4.2 1.6 
			 1996 90.5 7.2 3.5 2.4 125.2 12.9 4.1 0.6 
			 1997 87.0 4.0 4.0 0.6 109.6 19.0 3.7 2.2 
			 1998 100.8 7.6 1.9 0.9 93.5 15.1 3.2 2.7 
			 1999 100.0 10.0 5.8 2.3 113.6 7.4 2.8 2.7 
		
	
	
		Table 2: International migration to/from the countries of the UK by non-UK citizens 
		
			  To From  
			 Year  England  Scotland Wales Northern Ireland England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1990 57.6 1.0 0.9 1.8 40.9 2.3 0.6 2.1 
			 1991 46.7 1.7 0.8 1.1 43.1 5.4 1.0 2.9 
			 1992 38.5 1.1 0.9 0.8 30.7 0.9 1.6 2.9 
			 1993 36.6 3.6 1.4 0.8 35.3 1.2 1.3 2.3 
			 1994 43.9 2.3 1.3 0.8 32.8 2.7 0.6 2.7 
			 1995 54.0 1.9 2.4 0.8 31.2 2.0 0.8 2.6 
			 1996 62.3 5.5 1.0 0.7 36.3 1.6 1.7 3.2 
			 1997 66.1 2.0 2.9 0.5 46.2 1.7 1.0 3.4 
			 1998 68.5 5.7 3.0 0.4 41.9 1.2 0.8 3.3 
			 1999 62.7 1.8 1.0 0.3 55.3 0.7 0.4 1.9 
		
	
	Figures for all years show the EU as it has been constituted since 1 January 1995.
	Note:
	Figures in these tables represent total international migration combining data from the International Passenger Survey. Home Office data on asylum seekers, and people who entered the UK as short-term visitors but were subsequently granted an extension of stay for a year or longer for other reasons, and estimates of migration between the UK and the Irish Republic
	
		Table 3: Total migration to and from the UK and its' constituent countries. Number of people moving from and to selected countries for calendar years 1990 to 1999 -- Thousand
		
			  From:  
			  England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Rest of EU Rest of the World Total 
		
		
			 To:
			 1990
			 England — 35.1 42.1 9.8 87.0 228.9 402.8 
			 Scotland 53.9 — 1.8 0.5 4.3 9.9 70.4 
			 Wales 47.5 0.9 — 0.3 1.3 5.0 55.0 
			 Northern Ireland 10.4 1.4 0.3 — 1.8 1.9 15.9 
			 Rest of EU 69.1 3.7 0.7 2.1 n/a n/a 75.6 
			 Rest of the World 147.8 21.8 4.4 2.3 n/a n/a 176.3 
			  
			 Total 328.7 62.9 49.3 14.9 94.4 245.7 795.9 
			 
			 1991
			 England — 43.7 45.4 6.7 85.2 215.0 396.0 
			 Scotland 51.7 — 1.7 2.4 3.7 19.6 79.1 
			 Wales 49.8 1.5 — 0.2 2.7 6.6 60.8 
			 Northern Ireland 10.6 1.5 0.3 — 2.3 1.7 16.5 
			 Rest of EU 81.2 5.1 2.7 2.9 n/a n/a 91.9 
			 Rest of the World 146.6 18.8 4.4 2.0 n/a n/a 171.8 
			  
			 Total 340.0 70.6 54.6 14.2 93.9 242.9 816.1 
			 
			 1992
			 England — 44.4 46.3 8.6 84.5 177.3 361.1 
			 Scotland 50.9 — 1.8 1.9 2.9 12.2 69.8 
			 Wales 49.8 1.7 — 0.4 0.8 5.7 58.4 
			 Northern Ireland 10.0 1.4 0.3 — 0.9 1.5 14.1 
			 Rest of EU 66.5 3.5 5.3 4.0 n/a n/a 79.3 
			 Rest of the World 148.2 19.9 2.5 1.6 n/a n/a 172.2 
			  
			 Total 325.4 70.9 56.2 16.6 89.1 196.7 754.8 
			 
			 1993
			 England — 43.8 46.2 8.6 63.2 184.1 345.9 
			 Scotland 49.8 — 1.8 2.5 7.6 9.0 70.7 
			 Wales 49.4 1.7 — 0.4 1.8 5.5 58.8 
			 Northern Ireland 9.0 1.4 0.2 — 0.8 0.4 11.9 
			 Rest of EU 75.7 2.6 2.8 2.9 n/a n/a 84.0 
			 Rest of the World 133.5 13.6 4.9 0.8 n/a n/a 152.8 
			  
			 Total 317.4 63.1 56.0 15.2 73.4 199.0 724.2 
			 
			 1994
			 England — 45.9 48.4 9.1 84.6 204.3 392.3 
			 Scotland 47.3 — 1.7 2.7 9.3 13.8 74.8 
			 Wales 50.0 1.6 — 0.4 1.0 6.4 59.4 
			 Northern Ireland 9.1 1.5 0.3 — 0.9 1.2 13.0 
			 Rest of EU 62.6 5.7 0.6 2.2 n/a n/a 71.1 
			 Rest of the World 126.7 9.3 4.3 1.2 n/a n/a 141.5 
			  
			 Total 295.6 64.0 55.3 15.6 95.8 225.7 752.1 
			 1995
			 England — 47.9 51.0 9.2 82.5 214.4 405.0 
			 Scotland 44.2 — 1.6 2.7 3.1 9.6 61.2 
			 Wales 52.6 1.7 — 0.4 2.8 6.4 63.9 
			 Northern Ireland 11.2 2.4 0.5 — 0.8 1.2 16.1 
			 Rest of EU 62.7 3.4 2.5 3.0 n/a n/a 71.6 
			 Rest of the World 125.3 10.5 3.1 1.5 n/a n/a 140.4 
			  
			 Total 295.9 65.9 58.7 16.8 89.2 231.6 758.2

Manufacturing Jobs

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many manufacturing jobs have been lost since May 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 October 2001
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of manufacturing jobs lost since May 1997 (7758).
	The table below shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for May 1997 and July 2001.
	
		
			 UK Thousands(7) 
		
		
			 May 1997 4,160 
			 July 2001 3,817 
			 Change between May 1997 and July 2001 -343 (-8.2%) 
		
	
	(7) Seasonally adjusted
	These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website www.statistics.gov.uk./statbase/tsdataset.asp?vlnk=342 under series identifier YEJL.

Excess Winter Deaths

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of excess winter deaths which occurred in 2000–01 in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Great Britain, by age band; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 15 October 2001
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for estimates of the number of excess winter deaths in 2000–01 for each English region, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain broken down by age band and for corresponding estimates for each of the last five years (7574).
	Final figures for English Government Office Regions and for Wales for 1995–96 to 1998–99 and provisional figures for 1999–2000 were provided on 8 November 2000, Official Report, columns 269–272W. Figures for Scotland are now the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
	The Office for National Statistics will be releasing provisional excess winter mortality figures for 2000–2001 and final figures for 1999–2000 on 18 October 2001. I will be placing a copy in the Libraries of the House at that time.

Domestic Service

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people employed (a) legally and (b) illegally in domestic service in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Brady, dated October 2001
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning legal and illegal employment in domestic services. (7214)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of the total number of people who report themselves in the survey as being employed in domestic service. Figures for each of the last five years are shown in the table.
	The LFS does not collect information on whether people are employed legally or illegally.
	
		All persons employed in domestic service(8) United Kingdom March-May 1997 to March-May 2001 not seasonally adjusted
		
			 Year Thousand 
		
		
			 1997 159 
			 1998 145 
			 1999 138 
			 2000 134 
			 2001 115 
		
	
	(8) People employed in Standard Industrial Classification (1992) division P: Private households with employed person
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Money Laundering

Peter Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the role of lightly regulated financial regimes overseas in allowing money laundering in support of international drug trafficking, arms running and terrorism.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Action Task Force, of which the UK is a member, carries out regular assessments on the financial regimes of countries and territories which it suspects may be used for laundering money related to drug trafficking, arms running and terrorism. Those countries and territories which are listed as non-co-operative are required to put in place adequate systems to prevent money laundering before they can be considered for removal from the list. So far four countries and territories have made sufficient improvements that they can be de-listed.

Money Laundering

Peter Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the international community acts in concert to eliminate money laundering.

Ruth Kelly: The international standards against money laundering are set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The UK has promoted these standards and sought the maximum international exchange of information and judicial co-operation. We have also pressed the International Monetary Fund to recognise the FATF 40 recommendations as the international standard, which it has now done; and we have promoted a new European Union directive to strengthen community obligations to combat money laundering.

Money Laundering

Peter Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries he has identified as encouraging facilitating money laundering; and what progress has been made in persuading them to impose proper regulation on their financial regimes.

Ruth Kelly: On 7 September 2001, the Financial Action Task Force, of which the UK is a member, identified 19 non-co-operative countries or territories—Cook Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, Niue, Philippines, Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Ukraine. The FATF is engaged in constructive dialogue with all these countries and territories to improve their compliance with international anti-money laundering standards. Those countries and territories judged to be non-compliant with international anti-money laundering standards are identified as such and put on the list of non-co-operative countries and territories.

Means-tested Benefits and Tax Credits

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the savings ratio of means-tested benefits and tax credits introduced since May 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The Government's strategy to encourage saving, published in November 2000 in "Helping People to Save", is to create the right environment for saving, including the right macro-economic environment, create the right incentives for people to save, and provide information and education to help people make the right saving choices. Government policies on means-tested benefits and tax credits target assistance to those most in need.

Trade in Goods Deficit

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the deficit on trade in goods for the UK was in 2000; and what his forecast is for 2001.

Ruth Kelly: Latest balance of payments and trade data were released by the ONS on 25 and 20 September. The Government will publish updated forecasts for the UK economy in this autumn's pre-Budget report.

Scottish Bus Group Pension Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he received from the Scottish Executive prior to the decision being taken to transfer moneys from the Scottish Bus Group pension fund to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  regarding the decision to transfer moneys from the Scottish Bus Group pension fund to the Exchequer.

Andrew Smith: Following discussion between the Scottish Executive and the Treasury, the Scottish Executive announced in December 2000 that agreement had been reached with the Treasury that when the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes are wound up the Scottish Executive will make ex gratia payments to members. A total of around £100 million is expected to be available for distribution.

Scottish Bus Group Pension Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure Scottish Bus Group pension fund holders affected by the decision to transfer moneys from the Scottish Bus Group pension fund surplus to the Exchequer are compensated to the value of their policy on maturity; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The Scottish Executive announced in December 2000 that they will make ex gratia payments to scheme members. A total of around £100 million is expected to be available for distribution. The payments are in addition to members' accrued pension rights.

Scottish Bus Group Pension Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the National Bus Group Pension Fund has been treated differently from the Scottish Bus Group pension fund; what his policy is on payment of additional compensation to Scottish Bus Group pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The circumstances of the National Bus Group pension fund are not the same as those of the Scottish Transport Group pension fund. However, while there is no legal entitlement for STG pension scheme members to share in the pension surplus at wind-up, the Scottish Executive have announced that they will make ex gratia payments to members, to achieve an outcome broadly comparable to that secured in England.

London Weighting

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total annual value of London weightings and London living allowances for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: As at 31 August 2001, the total value of London weightings and London allowance being paid to HM Treasury staff was £134,796 per annum.

R and D Tax Credits

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on levels of R and D tax credits in Objective 1 areas; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Research and development tax credits for companies which qualify as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were introduced from April 2000. In Budget 2001 we announced a consultation on similar tax credits for larger companies. The consultation has now closed and we are analysing the responses.
	Regional tax measures present particular problems through the distortions they can introduce into the tax system and the difficulties of developing workable, yet straightforward provisions.

R and D Tax Credits

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to (a) extend the research and development tax credit programme and (b) remove employers' national insurance contributions on stock options.

Dawn Primarolo: Research and development tax credits for companies which qualify as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were introduced from April 2000. In Budget 2001 we announced consultation on similar tax credits for larger companies. The consultation has now closed and we are analysing the responses.
	We have no plans to remove employers' national insurance contributions from employee share options. The application of national insurance contributions to the exercise of share options is part of the Government's general policy of aligning income tax and national insurance. However, in response to concerns from business about the uncertainty of their national insurance liability, we introduced an easement in July 2000. This allows companies to pass their liability on share options to their employees with their agreement. So far 900 companies have taken advantage of this measure.

Money Transmission System

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to set up a regulator for the money transmission system.

Andrew Smith: The Government published in August 2001 a response to consultation on its proposals of December 2000 to give the Office of Fair Trading new powers to promote competition in payment systems (these two documents have been deposited in the House of Commons Library and can be found electronically at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pub/html/reg/pay.html and http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press/2001/p95 01.html respectively). The Government intend to legislate as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Euro

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what feasibility study he has undertaken of making the euro legal tender in the UK in tandem with the pound sterling.

Ruth Kelly: None. The Government's policy on membership of the single currency remains as set out by the Chancellor in October 1997, and restated by the Prime Minister to the House of Commons in February 1999. The determining factor underpinning any Government decision to join the single currency is the national economic interest, and whether the economic case is clear and unambiguous.

PSBR

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes to the definition of PSBR have taken place since May 1997.

Andrew Smith: In July 1998 the PSBR was renamed the public sector net cash requirement. In September 1998 the definition was modified to conform with the new European System of Accounts (ESA95). Details of the changes were given in Chapter 5 of "Monthly Statistics on Public Sector Finances: a methodological guide" (no. 12 in Government Statistical Service Methodology Series). Further information on the Government's use of fiscal aggregates in setting fiscal policy can be found in Section 4 of "Analysing UK Fiscal Policy" (HM Treasury, November 1999).

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Ruth Kelly: Information on the normal retirement ages for the Chancellor's departments and executive agencies is as follows:
	
		
			 Department/agency Compulsory retirement age Comments 
		
		
			 HM Treasury 60 for all staff  
			 Debt Management Office (HMT agency) 60 for all staff  
			 Office of Government Commerce 60 for new starters joining OGC post 1 April 2001 Some staff have reserved rights to be retained up to age 65 and there are short-service concessions for some staff who have less than 20 years' service 
			 HM Customs and Excise 60 for all staff Discretion in some cases for retention of those with shortage skills beyond age 60, subject to meeting health and efficiency requirements 
			 Inland Revenue 60 for all staff Discretion in some cases for retention beyond age 60, subject to meeting health and efficiency requirements, plus a short-service concession for those with less than 25 years pensionable service 
			 Government Actuary's Department 60 for all staff  
			 Office for National Statistics 60 for all staff Some staff have reserved rights to retire between the ages of 60 and 64 and field force interviewers employed on a fee-paid basis, have a compulsory retirement age of 65

Integrated Tax and Benefits System

Tony Colman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the introduction of an integrated tax and benefits system for the United Kingdom.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to further integration of the tax and benefit system to help achieve the following aims: tackling poverty; promoting incentives to work and save; maximising take up; targeting support on those who need it most; and improving customer service and increasing efficiency.
	During the last Parliament, a number of reforms were put in place, including the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, the Children's Tax Credit and the Minimum Income Guarantee for pensioners. In the next stage of reform, the Government intend to introduce a new system of payable tax credits from 2003 which will help to support families, make work pay and tackle child poverty. In addition, the Pension Credit, which will be introduced from 2003, will help reward saving, support pensioners on low to modest incomes and tackle pensioner poverty.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how projections for future growth of the UK economy have been revised as a result of the foot and mouth disease.

Andrew Smith: The Government will publish updated forecasts for the UK economy in the autumn pre-Budget report.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) companies and (b) non- incorporated businesses have applied to defer payments of (i) corporation and personal tax and (ii) value added tax as a result of foot and mouth disease; and how many were in (A) the UK and (B) Scotland.

Dawn Primarolo: As at 7 October, 5,901 businesses had applied to defer payments of company tax, 3,080 businesses had applied to defer value added tax and 9,760 individuals had applied to defer self-assessed tax.
	Out of a total of 18,741 businesses, 15,688 of these were in England with the remaining 3,053 in Scotland.

Tax Returns

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure a reduction in the number of errors made by the Inland Revenue when amending self-assessment tax returns.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue has a quality monitoring system under which it carries out an annual review of the processing work, which includes amendments to self-assessment tax returns. Action is taken to determine the cause of errors and to identify corrective measures.
	In addition, since March 2000, the Revenue has operated a programme of quality assurance and quality control for the processing of tax returns and other key operating processes. This is part of a national quality programme for quality improvement.
	Staff involved in SA processing work are subject to individual checks of work done to determine the cause of any errors and to ensure prompt remedial action is taken.
	The results of the quality monitoring exercise for 1999–2000 returns showed a significant improvement on the results for the previous year. A further improvement is being sought for 2000–01 returns.

Climate Change Levy

David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 2001, Official Report column 412, to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight), on what date officials of HM Customs and Excise first met to consider the charging of VAT on climate change levy liabilities; and how many times they have subsequently met.

Paul Boateng: Customs officials did not meet on this specific issue. The law requires that the value on which value added tax is calculated is the total amount of money to be given in exchange for a supply. This amount includes tax, and since the inception of VAT it has been calculated on the excise duty inclusive value of sales of goods such as petrol, alcohol and tobacco. The levy follows this long-established principle.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate of the yield from climate change levy is in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.

Paul Boateng: The latest published forecast of the yield for climate change levy in 2001–02 is set out in the Financial Statement and Budget report published on 7 March 2001. A routine forecast will be published in this autumn's pre-Budget report.

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the guidelines are for Government bodies, including and distinguishing between Departments, Next Steps agencies and non-departmental public bodies, with regards to purchasing leases for properties.

Andrew Smith: Guidelines for the acquisition of properties can be found in the Estates Services Guide (ESG), which is published by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). The ESG offers Government users on the Civil Estate good practice guidance on estate management, including the acquisition of office accommodation by leasing and other means. It does not provide advice on residential or agricultural property. The ESG is made freely available to Government Departments, Next Steps agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Equitable Life

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish a scheme to compensate policyholders of Equitable Life for losses sustained by them as a result of regulatory failure.

Ruth Kelly: We have no plans to do so. The Government believe that the right course of action is to have an independent inquiry to ensure that the lessons are learned from what has happened. That is why we have asked Lord Penrose to examine the circumstances leading to the current situation at Equitable Life and to identify any lessons to be learned for the conduct, administration and regulation of life assurance.

Equitable Life

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions the FSA held with Equitable Life about their decision to cut the value of with-profits pensions by 16 per cent.

Ruth Kelly: Decisions about the value of with-profits policies are a matter for the Board of Equitable Life. I understand that the FSA and the society have regular meetings to discuss a range of regulatory issues.

Equitable Life

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the amount and likelihood of public liability in the case of Equitable Life.

Ruth Kelly: None.

Equitable Life

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Penrose inquiry will investigate allegations of maladministration by the DTI and Treasury in relation to regulation of Equitable Life; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The scope of the inquiry being conducted by Lord Penrose is a matter for him, subject to his terms of reference.
	The terms of reference are
	"To inquire into the circumstances leading to the current situation of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, taking account of relevant life market background; to identify any lessons to be learnt for the conduct, administration and regulation of life assurance business; and to give a report thereon to Treasury Ministers."

Equitable Life

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what target date has been given to Lord Penrose for the completion and publication of his report.

Ruth Kelly: The timing of the report into the findings of his inquiry is a matter for Lord Penrose. It is expected that the inquiry will report in the second half of next year.

Equitable Life

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when a decision will be taken on the date of publication of the report by the FSA into Equitable Life;
	(2)  when the Treasury will receive the report of the FSA into Equitable Life.

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he received the Financial Services Authority's report on Equitable Life; and when he will publish this report;
	(2)  what issues he will take into account in deciding whether to publish the Financial Services Authority's report on Equitable Life.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury received the FSA Report last week and is carefully considering it. The report will be published shortly.

Equitable Life

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Lord Penrose will be working full-time in the conduct of the inquiry of which he is chairman.

Ruth Kelly: Yes. Lord Penrose is working full-time on the inquiry.

Equitable Life

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Lord Penrose began work on his inquiry into Equitable Life; and what resources have been made available to him.

Ruth Kelly: Lord Penrose began work immediately after the announcement on 31 August that he would carry out an inquiry.
	All the resources he considers necessary are available to him.

Business Investment

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his forecast of the level of business investment is for (a) 2002 and (b) 2001.

Ruth Kelly: Updated forecasts for the UK economy will be published in this autumn's pre-Budget report.

Pheasants

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to ensure (a) pheasant- rearing operations and (b) pheasant shooting do not avoid (i) business rates and (ii) VAT through misclassification as agricultural practices; what estimate he has of the revenue each year from these sources; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Valuation Office and Customs and Excise are responsible for ensuring compliance with the tax rules on business rates and VAT respectively. A valuation tribunal recently confirmed that pheasant-rearing operations are not agricultural and are therefore rateable, but shooting rights have not been treated as rateable since 1997. The sale of pheasants reared in a game hatchery is zero-rated for VAT. The granting of shooting rights is standard-rated, except when included with land sold exempt from VAT.
	Estimates of the revenue each year from these sources are not readily available.

Food Sales (VAT)

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that hot food sold by supermarkets should be charged at the standard rate of value added tax.

Paul Boateng: Food heated for the purpose of being consumed as hot food is charged at the standard rate of VAT.

Child Poverty

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much would the Government have to increase (a) Working Families Tax Credit and (b) child benefit to achieve each of the Government's targets on child poverty using the Government's macro-economic assumptions and assuming that the proportion of children living in households below 60 per cent. of median household income otherwise remained the same.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's third annual anti-poverty report "Opportunity for All" was published in September. The report shows encouraging progress against a range of indicators.
	The Government's strategy is both to tackle current issues and to break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage for the long term. This requires action beyond the WFTC and child benefit. The strategy includes: ensuring a decent family income—with work for those who can and extra support for those who cannot; access to excellent public services; targeted interventions for those with additional needs and at key stages in life; and harnessing the power and expertise of the voluntary and community sector.

Balance of Payments Deficit

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest forecast is for the balance of payments deficit for 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The Government will publish updated forecasts for the UK economy in this autumn's pre-Budget report.

Balance of Payments Deficit

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the balance of payments deficit and its consequences for the economic outlook.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury Ministers receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals on economic issues, and value their insights.

Women Entrepreneurs

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that more women are provided with start-up finance by financial institutions, and that potential women entrepreneurs are not discriminated against by financial institutions in the provision of such finance.

Ruth Kelly: The latest version of the Banking Code, which came into force on 1 January 2001, includes a key commitment that explicitly states that the banks will make sure that their products and services meet the relevant laws and regulations that relate to discrimination.
	Women will also benefit from all of the 96 projects supported through the Development Fund element of the DTI's Phoenix Fund. Some 16 of these projects specifically single out women for help in setting up or developing their own businesses.

Foster Carers (Allowances)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Inland Revenue's future plans for the taxation of the different types of allowances payable to foster carers.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue is working with the Department of Health and a number of organisations representing foster carers to design a fair and simple method by which foster carers can calculate their reward element by reference to standard, agreed, expenses. Alternatively, carers would be able to claim actual expenses. The Revenue hopes to be able to introduce the new arrangements for the tax year commencing 6 April 2002.

Capital Gains Tax Receipts

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact the present decline in market values will have on his forecast revenue from Capital Gains Tax receipts in financial year 2001–02.

Andrew Smith: Current levels and prospects for all relevant economic indicators are kept under continual review and will be taken into account in the next published forecast of Capital Gains Tax which will be published in the pre-Budget report.

Departmental Spending

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the key objectives listed in the Treasury guidance for the forthcoming spending round; and what incentives his Department has put in place to ensure that departmental spending bids promote sustainable development.

Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) on 25 June 2001, Official Report, columns 38–39W. My right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary will be conducting discussions with colleagues on the integration of the full range of sustainable development issues into departmental programmes over the course of the Spending Review.

Departmental Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Ruth Kelly: The table lists the total running costs and average cost per square metre for buildings used, owned or rented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Treasury Departments. The data are set out in a format that highlights figures by nation and region for the Department.
	
		
			 Nation/region Total running costs (£) Area in square metres Average cost per square metre 
		
		
			 Scotland 30,759,058 185,996.5 165.37 
			 Wales 14,391,570 35,446.0 86.80 
			 N. Ireland 3,991,458 35,446.0 112.61 
			 England
			 Central 39,335,883 423,197.3 92.95 
			 London 72,924,395 347,701.5 209.73 
			 North 70,361,402 522,702.3 134.61 
			 South 53,518,207 320,275.0 167.10

Departmental Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of spending by his Department was in each nation and region of the UK, in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of his Department's total spending this constitutes; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The table provides the information requested, for all Departments, based on departmental responsibilities prior to the machinery of Government changes announced in June 2001. The figures relate to total managed expenditure on services that is identifiable for the benefit of a particular population and are for 1999–2000. More information on public spending by country and region is available in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2001–02 (Cm 5101), from which the underlying data for this answer have been taken.
	
		Total managed expenditure on services by country, 1999–2000
		
			   £ million  
			  England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Total identifiable Non— identifiable 
		
		
			 Department for Education, Employment and Ofsted 13,116.8 137.9 148.7 0.2 13,403.6 8.1 
			 Department of Health 41,666.5 0.5 0.2 0.2 41,667.4 170.9 
			 DETR 6,913.6 259.2 116.3 10.8 7,299.9 7.6 
			 Home Office 3,300.1 49.2 194.7 16.1 3,560.1 20.8 
			 Lord Chancellor's Departments 1,866.9 0.0 131.3 57.4 2,055.6 19.1 
			 The Law Officers' Departments 312.8 0.0 21.8 0.4 334.9 — 
			 Ministry of Defence — — — — — 22,507.2 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office — — — — — 1,149.8 
			 Department for International Development — — — — — 2,240.8 
			 Department of Trade and Industry 1,561.7 113.8 66.1 20.3 1,762.0 2,433.4 
			 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2,654.2 120.2 59.0 44.3 2,877.7 331.0 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 2,272.7 156.0 309.6 48.1 2,786.4 75.2 
			 Department of Social Security 73,780.4 8,494.9 5,298.7 33.3 87,607.3 753.6 
			 Scotland(9) — 9,671.2 — — 9,671.2 — 
			 Wales(9) — — 4,285.0 — 4,285.0 4.1 
			 Northern Ireland(9) — — — 9,538.0 9,538.0 — 
			 Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments 4.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 4.3 6,852.8 
			 Cabinet Office, Central Office of Information and Privy Council Office — — — — — 973.2 
			 Forestry Commission 50.8 27.6 11.7 0.0 90.1 — 
			 Parliament and National Audit Office — — — — — 359.0 
			  
			 Total 147,500 19,031 10,643 9,769 186,943 37,907 
		
	
	(9) Include the Scottish Office, Welsh Office, Northern Ireland Office and all devolved expenditure
	The £147.5 billion of identifiable expenditure for England breaks down as follows:
	
		Total managed expenditure on services by region, 1999–2000
		
			   £ million  
			   North East  North West Yorkshire and Humberside  East Midlands  West Midlands  South West  Eastern  London  South East  England 
		
		
			 Department for Education, Employment and Ofsted 755.0 1,910.8 1,340.7 1,119.0 1,467.6 1,332.3 1,514.2 2,107.2 1,570.2 13,116.9 
			 Department of Health 2,265.8 5,960.8 4,311.5 3,227.5 4,276.9 3,997.8 4,447.3 7,175.1 6,003.7 41,666.5 
			 DETR 303.7 909.7 530.5 510.8 629.2 496.3 639.9 1,825.5 1,067.9 6,913.6 
			 Home Office 170.6 495.2 360.5 342.1 327.8 336.5 323.1 384.2 560.1 3,300.1 
			 Lord Chancellor's Departments 104.9 240.8 162.6 143.7 163.5 169.1 134.8 493.1 254.4 1,866.9 
			 The Law Officers' Departments 17.7 56.1 32.0 22.6 26.8 24.4 27.4 64.1 41.6 312.8 
			 Department of Trade and Industry 64.2 209.2 144.2 121.6 166.3 147.2 172.6 259.4 277.2 1,561.8 
			 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 137.7 367.1 269.2 223.6 284.6 263.3 289.1 388.6 430.9 2,654.2 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 171.3 238.5 183.8 129.2 180.2 184.4 158.6 823.9 202.9 2,272.7 
			 Department of Social Security 4,890.3 12,048.5 7,999.6 6,109.4 8,201.3 7,431.5 7,401.5 9,425.3 10,273.0 73,780.4 
			 Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.7 4.1 
			 Forestry Commission 5.6 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.6 5.5 5.6 5.5 5.6 50.8 
			  
			 Total 8,887 22,443 15,341 11,955 15,730 14,389 15,114 22,953 20,688 147,501

Petrol Smuggling

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the amount of petrol that was smuggled into 
	(1)  north-west England from the Irish Republic in each of the last five years;
	(2)  North Ireland from the Irish Republic in each of the last five years.

Paul Boateng: Customs have no such estimates.

Private Medicine (VAT)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was raised at current prices from expenditure on private medical insurance and private medical care in the last financial year.

Paul Boateng: No VAT was raised from expenditure on these services in the last financial year. Expenditure on private medical insurance and private medical care is exempt from VAT.

Urban Regeneration Companies

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to ensure that urban regeneration companies benefit from (a) corporation tax credits and (b) other reductions in tax liabilities.

Paul Boateng: The Government announced in Budget 2001 that they would consider the scope for providing a corporation tax relief for company donations to urban regeneration companies and similar bodies across the UK. This work is on-going.
	When making any decision relating to taxation policy, the Chancellor considers all relevant economic, social and environmental factors.

Air Passenger Duty

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the yield from air passenger duty for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact the terrorist crisis will have on his forecast of revenue from air passenger duty in financial year 2001–02.

Paul Boateng: The latest published forecast of the yield from air passenger duty in 2001–02 is set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report published on 7 March 2001. A routine forecast will be published in this autumn's pre-Budget Report.

Air Passenger Duty

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce air passenger duty.

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make changes to air passenger duty; and if he will make a statement.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to suspend air passenger duty.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor reviews all taxes in the context of his pre-Budget and Budget Statements.

Air Passenger Duty

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received since 11 September from the aviation industry about air passenger duty.

Paul Boateng: We have received a number of such representations.

Air Passenger Duty

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of air passenger duty came from (a) commercial passengers and (b) non-commercial passengers in the last financial year.

Paul Boateng: Air passenger duty returns do not show whether duty revenues have accrued from commercial or non-commercial passengers. It is therefore not possible to provide the requested breakdown of revenues.

Lear's Macaws

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Customs and Excise investigation into the three Lear's Macaws seized in November 1998, indicating what steps are being taken to return them to Brazil for captive breeding and release of progeny to the wild.

Paul Boateng: The Lear's Macaws were seized together with a number of other birds in May 1998. Following an investigation, Henry Sissen was convicted in April 2000 on four counts relating to the illegal importation of the Macaws and other birds, and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment. He appealed against conviction and sentence, the conviction was upheld but the sentence was reduced to 18 months. In September this year a Confiscation Order was made reflecting Mr. Sissen's benefit from criminal activity in the sum of £150,000.
	Mr. Sissen has since appealed against seizure. Customs cannot make a decision on the future of the birds until these proceedings are completed.

Counter-terrorism (Customs and Excise)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the contribution of Customs and Excise to the Government's counter-terrorism policy;
	(2)  what plans he has to (a) increase the number of posts in Customs and Excise and (b) redeploy staff within Customs and Excise as part of the Government's response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September.

Paul Boateng: HM Customs and Excise plays a full and appropriate role in the Government's overall response to the threat from terrorism and associated criminality.

Vehicle Tax Discs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on extending the age exemption for tax discs applicable for cars over 25 years old to those aged 30 years old and over.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor makes decisions relating to taxation policy in the context of his Budget judgment.

Advance Corporation Tax Credits

Robert Syms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the abolition of advance corporation tax credits on dividend income for (a) pension funds and (b) the amount that employees need to save to ensure a comfortable retirement.

Ruth Kelly: The abolition of payable tax credits on dividends was part of a package of reforms that included cuts in corporation tax rates and the abolition of advance corporation tax. These changes were designed to improve the climate for long-term investment in the UK. In the long run, this should benefit all investors—including pension funds and those saving for retirement.

Enhanced Capital Allowances Scheme

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the available funding for the Enhanced Capital Allowances Scheme.

Dawn Primarolo: The scheme for enhanced capital allowances for energy-saving investments is a tax relief for businesses that invest in designated energy-saving technologies. It is not a scheme that relies on a fund that is ring-fenced. The scheme enables businesses to write off immediately the whole of their qualifying spending against their taxable profits and thereby receive the benefit of a useful cash-flow boost.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was, for each year since 1995, 
	(1)  the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords;
	(2)  the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Treasury Ministers attach great importance to the efficient, effective and expeditious handling of correspondence and parliamentary questions.
	Information relating to the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall is published by the Cabinet Office. The figures for 2000 were given on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324–28W, and on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.
	The number of written questions answered by Treasury Ministers in each House since 1995–96 is given in the table.
	
		
			  House of Commons House of Lords 
		
		
			 1995–96 1,851 N/A 
			 1996–97 657 29 
			 1997–98 4,554 282 
			 1998–99 2,097 156 
			 1999–2000 2,857 274 
			 2000–01 1,297 107 
		
	
	The information sought by the hon. Member concerning average and other response times for parliamentary questions is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Financial Services and Markets Act (Regulated Activities Order)

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what method he will use to update the Financial Services and Markets Act (Regulated Activities Order) 2001 to ensure that changes are made in such a way as to be easily comprehensible to the regulated community.

Ruth Kelly: The Government gave a commitment in the House of Commons during the passage of FSMA that there would at any time be a single RAO. This commitment could be interpreted as meaning that we should remake the RAO each time we needed to change it.
	The normal practice when amending a statutory instrument is to make textual amendments only to the particular provisions affected, unless the changes are so substantial or widespread as to justify revoking the original instrument and re-making it (with amendments) in its entirety. Re-making the entire RAO every time we need to amend it (however minor the changes) would differ from that usual practice. From time to time we will need to adjust the RAO, for example to reflect developments in the market, or changes to European legislation. If we remade the entire RAO each time, this would impact on the numerous other Statutory Instruments, together with rules made by the Financial Services Authority, which refer to the RAO, and would be likely to necessitate consequential changes to these. The overall effect might be to make the body of law of which the RAO is a part less rather than more clear to the regulated community.
	Another disadvantage of re-making the entire order is that it would be difficult for readers to tell readily what had changed. Each time the order was remade the general reader would have to buy the complete new version.
	Having consulted the industry and received its general support, we intend following standard practice and amending the RAO rather than completely re-making it, for changes to the RAO that do not involve a wholesale revision of the order. This will reduce the number of consequential amendments to other legislation (including FSA rules) as compared to remaking the entire order. To aid users of the order further we will provide an "unofficial" consolidated version on the HMT website, which will give the up-to-date version of the complete order as amended, at any given time. We will consider re-making the RAO only in the event of a wholesale revision of the order, and in such circumstances we would then take the opportunity to consolidate earlier orders amending the RAO.

Flooding (Insurance)

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to secure an extension to the agreement reached with the Association of British Insurers in respect of insurance cover available to properties subject to flooding.

Ruth Kelly: The agreement among ABI members is that they will continue to provide flood cover, except in exceptional circumstances, for domestic properties and small businesses which they currently insure, during 2001 and 2002. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for flood defence in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I met the Association of British Insurers on 5 September to discuss our mutual aim of ensuring that affordable flood insurance cover continues to be generally available after December 2002.
	The Government are acting to reduce flood risk, through substantial increases in investment in flood and coastal defence (which now totals over £400 million a year). Flood defences are being repaired, renewed, maintained and improved. The flood warning scheme is being continually improved. The Government have issued strengthened guidance to local planning authorities on control of development in flood risk areas, and are reviewing the financial and institutional arrangements under which the flood defence service is delivered. These are the chief concerns raised by the ABI. The Government are continuing to work with the ABI on these issues.

Pool Re

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual premiums collected and payments made have been in each year since the establishment of Pool Re.

Ruth Kelly: Pool Re was established on 1 January 1993. The information is as follows:
	
		£ million 
		
			  Gross written premiums Paid claims 
		
		
			 1993 222.1 47.6 
			 1994 389.3 93.2 
			 1995 195.8 86.4 
			 1996 287.2 94.3 
			 1997 318.8 124.9 
			 1998 173.2 95.6 
			 1999 50.8 42.4 
			 2000 56.0 14.3 
			  
			 Total 1,693.2 598.7

UK Economic Outlook

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the effect on individual sectors of the UK economy of the terrorist attacks on the US.

Ruth Kelly: The Government monitor all sectors of the UK economy as a part of their commitment to effective economic surveillance and management. We will present to Parliament our second annual forecast for the UK economy in the forthcoming pre-Budget report. The Government continue to receive a wide variety of representations from individuals, business and organisations in all sectors of the economy.

UK Economic Outlook

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if Treasury officials are planning to revise UK GDP growth projections downwards to 1.5 per cent. this year;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the consequences for the public finances of the changing economic outlook.

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make an assessment of the reduction in tax revenues that would result from a 1 per cent. reduction in GDP growth between now and October 2002;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment of the effect of a 1 per cent. reduction in economic growth in the next year on his forecast of net public sector borrowing in financial year 2002–03.

Andrew Smith: The Government's latest forecasts for the UK and world economies and the public finances were published in "Budget 2001" (HC 279). Updated forecasts will be presented as part of the forthcoming pre-Budget report.

Terrorist Bank Accounts

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken in respect of known terrorists' bank accounts since 11 September.

Ruth Kelly: Since the events of 11 September the UN Security Council has passed a resolution calling upon States to freeze the assets of terrorists. The Government have implemented this resolution (UNSCR 1373) by way of an Order in Council (SI No. 3365). The Government are in the process of notifying banks and financial institutions of known terrorists, such as those detailed in the 24 September US Executive Order, as and when they are issued.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reform the Private Finance Initiative.

Andrew Smith: The underlying principles applying to all types of partnership were set out in "Public Private Partnerships—the Government's Approach" which was published last year. Copies are available in the Library of the House and are accessible on the Treasury's website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/docs/2000.ppp.html.
	Consistent with these principles a number of significant improvements have been made to the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) since the Government took office in 1997.
	Further refinements to improve value for money continue to be implemented, including expanded and revised guidance on Standardisation of PFI Contracts, which is expected to be issued before the end of the year.

Financial Exclusion

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to reduce financial exclusion among persons without a bank account.

Ruth Kelly: The Government attach great importance to tackling financial exclusion—it is a key part of our strategy for ending social exclusion. Details of measures being taken to reduce financial exclusion can be found in the "National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal: Policy Action Team Audit" report, a copy of which is in the Library.

Bureaux de Change

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's proposals are for regulating bureaux de change; and what plans he has for (a) consultations with the industry, (b) the timetable for regulation, (c) registration requirements, (d) the establishment of a regulating body and (e) regulating impact assessment.

Ruth Kelly: A consultative document on a proposed regulatory regime for bureaux de change is being published today. Copies are available in the Vote office and the Library of the House.

Wind-powered Electricity

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much income has been received by the Crown Estate from wind-powered electricity generating installations situated offshore in the 2001–02 financial year;
	(2)  how much income was received by the Crown Estate from wind-powered electricity generating installations situated offshore in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01;
	(3)  how much income from wind-powered electricity generating installations situated offshore the Crown Estate is projected to receive for the 2001–02 financial year;
	(4)  how many wind-powered electricity generating stations situated offshore are projected to pay rent to the Crown Estate during the current financial year;
	(5)  how many wind-powered electricity generating stations situated offshore paid rent to the Crown Estate Commission in the financial year 2000–01.

Andrew Smith: The Blyth Offshore Wind Farm is currently the only offshore wind-powered electricity generating station. In previous financial years the Crown Estate has received no income from this source; during the current financial year it has been paid £2,500 base rent and is due 0.5 per cent. of the Gross Turnover for the first Turnover period or (if greater) £2,500.

Partnerships UK

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which companies successfully bid for 51 per cent. of Partnerships UK; and what are the shareholdings of each such company;
	(2)  what advice was sought by the Treasury prior to the acceptance of the financial contribution for a majority stake in Partnerships UK;
	(3)  if he will list the shareholders in Partnerships UK and the number of shares held by each as at (a) 30 November 2000, (b) 1 March 2001 and (c) 30 April 2001.

Andrew Smith: HM Treasury sold a 51 per cent. shareholding in PUK plc to private sector investors, following an offer for sale issued on 26 February 2001.
	Up until 31 March 2001 all shares in PUK plc were owned by The Solicitor for the Affairs of Her Majesty's Treasury. As at 31 March 2001 and 30 April 2001 the shareholders and the number of shares held by the private sector are as laid out in the table.
	
		
			  Shares "A" shares percentage holding 
		
		
			 Abbey National Treasury Services plc 666,666 6.67 
			 Sun Life Assurance Society plc 666,666 6.67 
			 The Prudential Assurance Company Limited 666,666 6.67 
			 Barclays Industrial Investments Limited 605,558 6.06 
			 The Royal Bank of Scotland plc 605,558 6.06 
			 The Governor and Company of Bank of Scotland (Uberior Investment plc) 444,444 4.44 
			 Halifax Project Investments plc 444,444 4.44 
			 Serco Limited 333,333 3.33 
			 The British Land Company (Boldswitch Limited) 222,222 2.22 
			 Group 4 Falck Joint Ventures Limited 222,222 2.22 
			 Jarvis plc 222,222 2.22 
		
	
	The public sector retains 49 per cent. of Partnerships UK plc. Scottish Ministers acquired a 4.4 per cent. shareholding from HM Treasury on 23 April, so that on 30 April 2001 the public sector shareholding was 4.4 per cent. by Scottish Ministers and 44.56 per cent. by HM Treasury.
	HM Treasury was advised throughout the sale process by: NM Rothschild and Sons acting as placement agent and financial adviser; Treasury Solicitors Department supported by Herbert Smith; and PriceWaterhouseCoopers who provided tax and accounting advice.
	Partnerships UK was advised by UBS Warburg.

Property Leases

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by the Treasury, including and distinguishing between the Department itself, its next step agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

Ruth Kelly: The table lists the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by the Treasury. The properties are listed by town for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All properties are the responsibility of the Department itself and not next step agencies or non departmental public bodies. All entries in the table relate to purchases made by established bodies.
	
		
			 Building name Location Current value (£) 
		
		
			 Car Park Birkdale Cricket Club 12,631 
			 Norfolk House Birmingham 193,550 
			 Units 10/12 Birmingham 10,000 
			 Ground Floor, Pinnacle House Bootle 16,500 
			 Centenary Court Bradford 967,419 
			 Bristol International Airport Bristol 33,264 
			 Waldo Road Bromley 26,500 
			 Sherbourne House Coventry 1,306,800 
			 Innovis House Crawley 159,640 
			 Southern House Croydon 1,157,315 
			 St. James House Derby 153,200 
			 Room 305, Terminal Control Building Dover 2,140 
			 Eastbourne TEC Eastbourne 16,822 
			 Concorde House Gatwick 447,795 
			 Rooms 2070 and 3048, South Terminal Departures Gatwick 5,268 
			 Room 3049, South Terminals Departures Gatwick 4,620 
			 Car Park Grimsby 4,500 
			 Terminus House Harlow 66,000 
			 2, Victoria Avenue Harrogate 165,223 
			 Rooms 1–6 and 1–7, Hamilton House Harwich 2,750 
			 Room 225, Terminal 2 Heathrow 14,571 
			 Custom House, Heathrow Hounslow 24,750 
			 Ashford International Terminal Kent 414 
			 Cromwell House Lincoln 146,000 
			 Queensgate House Lincoln 37,500 
			 Imperial Court Liverpool 613,133 
			 International House London 483,450 
			 Victory House London 1,250,000 
			 31 High Street, Ealing London 32,000 
			 Customs House London 20,280 
			 Customs House Annexe London 2,045,498 
			 1 Myddelton Place London 525,000 
			 Cheapside House, 138 Cheapside London 189,833 
			 Eastcheap Court, 11 Philpot Lane London 1,129,541 
			 Terminal Building Luton 127,967 
			 The Royal Exchange Manchester 54,991 
			 Rooms 27 and 28, Terminal 1, Manchester Airport Manchester 3,300 
			 Room 6, Terminal 1, Manchester Airport Manchester 2,600 
			 Dobson House Newcastle upon Tyne 195,526 
			 Unit 9 Lendal Court Nottingham 3,300 
			 Trinity House Oxford 412,162 
			 Plot 3400 Oxford 271,422 
			 Nash Court Oxford 116,519 
			 Stuart House Peterborough 75,000 
			 St. Mark's House Preston 312,897 
			 St. Mary's House Preston 252,103 
			 Guild Centre Preston 115,650 
			 RFTU Purfleet 4,800 
			 Kings Wharf Reading 327,250 
			 Harbour Masters Office Rye 900 
			 Cathedral Court Sheffield 124,576 
			 Shepperton House Shepperton 58,675 
			 New Mayfield House Shrewsbury 91,875 
			 Cavendish House Skipton 25,865 
			 John kEya House St. Austell 21,500 
			 Ocean House St. Leonards 114,310 
			 Room 623, Stansted Airport Stansted 3,800 
			 George Stephenson House Stockton 428,762 
			 Dunedin House Stockton on Tees 175,305 
			 St. Marks House Teesside 151,400 
			 Hanover House Telford 252,988 
			 Hollinswood House Telford 57,800 
			 St. James House Telford 365,330 
			 Custom House Tilbury 68,000 
			 Blencathra House Whitehaven 122,446 
			 Airport Terminal Yeadon 10,596 
			 Swinson House York 78,000 
			 Leeman House York 105,300 
			 Castlewellan Road Banbridge, Co. Down 31,150 
			 Mill House Coleraine 18,000 
			 Clarendon House Edinburgh 542,575 
			 Building 388 Prestwick 38.800 
		
	
	Note:
	Total number of properties—72.

Annuities

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend the obligation for pension holders to take out an annuity.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 125W.

Devolved Assemblies

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly Committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office has given him today.

Ministerial Visits

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by Ministers in his Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) Ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non-commercial flights were on each occasion; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying Ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by the Prime Minister, Official Report, column 823W.

Statistics

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of women born between 24 September and 25 December 1941 who are alive.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 15 October 2001
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the number of women born between 24 September and 25 December 1941 who are alive (7569).
	It is estimated that there are 72 thousand women in the United Kingdom who were born between these dates.
	This figure has been derived using the latest available national population projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department. These estimate that the total number of women in the United Kingdom reaching the age of 59 by June 2001 is 306.4 thousand. These women will have been born between July 1941 and June 1942.
	Data on the pattern of births in 1941 and 1942 from the Office for National Statistics indicates that of the total number of 59 year old women in June 2001, 72 thousand can be estimated as having been born between 24 September and 25 December 1941.

Income Tax Relief

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from income tax relief as a result of purchasing a stakeholder pension.

Ruth Kelly: All those who have contributed to a stakeholder pension will benefit from income tax relief—over 350,000 by 31 August 2001 according to the latest estimates from the Association of British Insurers. Provisional estimates of the number of contributors on whose behalf a repayment claim has been received by the end of July will be published on the Inland Revenue website at the end of the month.

Departmental Staff

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of staff employed by his Department by region and nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of each Civil Service grade in his Department is located in each region and nation of the UK; what the average salary is for each grade; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information relating to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments is set out in tables by region and nation and by average salary and grade, which I am depositing in the Library of the House. The data are the latest information available and follow the definitions used in Table D of "Civil Service Statistics 2001" which was published on 31 August 2001, which is also available in the Library.

Higher Rate Income Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of (a) how many persons paid income tax at the higher rate in each financial year since April 1997 and (b) how much was raised by the higher rate in current prices in each of the same years.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to "Inland Revenue Statistics", tables 2.1 and 2.5, a copy of which is available in the Library. It can also be accessed on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Transport Infrastructure/House Building

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his Department's responsibilities are in relation to the environmental impact of (a) transport infrastructure development and (b) house building proposals.

Sally Keeble: Proposals for transport infrastructure and housing development, which are likely to have significant effects on the environment come within the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (85/337/EEC as amended). The DTLR is the lead Department responsible for implementation of the Directive. The EIA procedure requires a developer to compile an Environmental Statement, which includes detailed information about the proposed development, the main effects it is likely to have on the environment, and the mitigation measures envisaged to deal with adverse effects. This information must be taken into account by the competent authority in reaching a decision on the proposal. For most projects falling within the scope of the Directive, for which planning permission is needed, the local planning authority is the competent authority, though in cases that are called in or subject to appeal the Secretary of State has to ensure compliance with EIA requirements. For some projects, for example proposals for new national roads, the Secretary of State is the competent authority.

Farmers' Markets

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received regarding existing planning constraints on the development of farmers' markets.

Sally Keeble: The Department has received a range of representations on planning arrangements for the temporary use of land for purposes including farmers' markets. Part 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) SI 1995 No 418 grants a general planning permission for the temporary use of land for up to 28 days in any calendar year, subject to a number of restrictions and conditions. In the case of markets, the permitted use is limited to a total of 14 days in recognition of the parking, litter and noise problems that often arise from such uses.
	Guidance to planning authorities in PPG6 "Town Centres & Retail Developments" and PPG7 "The Countryside" encourage farm diversification and acknowledge that farm shops can help meet the demand for fresh produce as well as providing new sources of jobs and services in rural areas. Farmers' markets can also provide such a service. Farmers' markets have been established successfully throughout the country in recent years.

Electoral Commission

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it Her Majesty's Government's policy to provide all hon. Members with the full report of the Electoral Commission.

Alan Whitehead: The Commission, which is directly answerable to Parliament, has placed a copy of its full report on the 2001 parliamentary general election in the Library of the House and has provided all hon. Members with a summary copy of the report. The full report, as well as the Commission's overview of the election campaign, is also available on the Electoral Commission's website. It would not be appropriate for the Government to supplement the independent Commission's measures, which in any event it could do only at disproportionate cost.

Elections (Turnout)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had on Her Majesty's Government's policy for increasing turnout at elections; and when he expects to issue proposals aimed at increasing turnout.

Alan Whitehead: Earlier this month, I, together with the chairmen of the Electoral Commission and the Local Government Association, jointly invited local authorities to apply to run a wide range of innovative electoral pilot projects—including all-postal voting and on-line voting—to test new electoral procedures designed to increase the accessibility of voting and make it suit modern lifestyles more appropriately. Such changes to the method of voting should help to increase turnout, but only if, as the Electoral Commission has stated in its report on the 2001 general election,
	"voters also feel that the election is relevant to them and their vote matters". The Commission is examining the reason for low turnout and will be making recommendations which we will consider very carefully.

Vehicle Excise Licences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he plans to take to improve enforcement against vehicle excise licence offences; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Vehicle excise duty evasion currently stands at 3.9 per cent. of revenue due (down from 4.1 per cent. in 1994). We have a number of measures in hand further to improve performance in this area.
	As a result of the success of the wheelclamping scheme for VED evasion there are plans to expand this operation. In addition, last week the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency launched a scheme involving the use of mobile Automatic Number Plate Reader systems to detect and deter unlicensed vehicles on the move. DVLA is also working very closely with the police and local authorities to develop new methods for tackling the evasion problem.

Fishing Communities

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 320W, on fishing communities, if he will list the (a) ports affected and (b) weight of the catch at each port.

Sally Keeble: The ports used to calculate the allocation to RDAs for the Fisheries Regeneration Initiative, and the weight of their catch, are as follows:
	
		Thousand tonnes 
		
			 Port of landing  Quantity 
		
		
			 Newlyn 6.79 
			 Hull 9.47 
			 Brixham 3.29 
			 Lowestoft 4.45 
			 Grimsby 5.09 
			 Plymouth 1.60 
			 Whitby 3.26 
			 Scarborough 2.91 
			 Fleetwood 2.30 
			 Shoreham 0.82 
			 North Shields 1.54 
			 Padstow 0.60 
			 Looe 0.94 
			 Bridlington 1.20 
			 River Fal-Falmouth 0.66 
			 Rye 0.39 
			 Whitehaven 0.80 
			 Hastings 0.38 
			 Dungeness 0.25 
			 Ramsgate 0.41 
			 Hartlepool 0.62 
			 Mevagissey 0.48 
			 Newhaven 0.45 
			 Appledore 0.37 
			 Blyth 0.72 
			 Folkestone 0.27 
			 Amble 0.78 
			 Poole 0.21 
			 Portsmouth 0.16 
			 Eastbourne 0.19 
			 Southwold 0.27 
			 Weymouth 0.12 
		
	
	This information came from the 1999 catches of Demersal Species by Port of Landing compiled by MAFF. This was the most up to date information available when the calculations were made.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Alan Whitehead: Information on the normal retirement age and on compulsory early retirement or severance for my Department and for the executive agencies and public sector bodies for which it is responsible is as follows:
	Grades listed 1 —normal retirement age of 65.
	Bands 3 up to 6 (and equivalents) (i.e. EO, HEO, SEO, G7, G6 and equivalents)—normal retirement age of 60.
	Senior Civil Servants—normal retirement age of 60.
	There are the following exceptions:
	Subject to the terms and conditions when they joined DTLR, there is a "short-service concession" for most non-senior civil servants in Bands 3 and above with less than 20 years accumulated service to continue to work until they reach 20 years or age 65, whichever is the earlier. This not available to Air Accident Inspectors, or those who became Crown employees working in the former Department of Transport after 31 March 1997.
	The Department may also invite staff to stay beyond the normal retirement age but not beyond age 70.
	Former Home Office staff who transferred to DTLR as part of the Machinery of Government changes in June 2001 are currently subject to the retirement policy of the Home Office.
	In non-departmental public bodies where staff are included in the Local Government Pension Scheme, the retirement age is 65.
	Variations within the agencies
	The following executive agencies have these variations:
	Driving Standards Agency: Senior Driving Examiners and Supervising Driving Examiners have a normal retirement age of 63; at present, to stay until 65 they would have to revert to Driving Examiners.
	The Fire Service College: Industrial staff have a retirement age of 65.
	The Planning Inspectorate: Planning Inspectors re-employed on flexible short-term contracts up to a maximum age of 65.
	The QEII Conference Centre: Normal retirement age of 60 for all staff.
	The Rent Service: Those staff transferred under TUPE protection from their local government employer have remained within the Local Government Pension Scheme. They may retire at age 65, although the scheme does allow them to retire at 60 should they so wish.
	Vehicle Inspectorate: Industrial employees Band 1 (Tester/Handy Person) in post by 1 May 1994 and over 50 can remain until 65. In other cases the retirement age is 60, with the exception of a short service concession for Band 1 Testers and Band 2 AVEs provided they were in post prior to 31 March 1997.
	Compulsory early retirement or severance.
	In exceptional cases, such as redundancy, staff may receive benefits calculated in accordance with the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. Staff aged 50 and over are normally considered for benefits under the early retirement provisions and staff under age 50 are considered for severance payments. Eligibility depends on age and length of service.
	Note 1
	Crown employees who worked in the former Department of the Environment
	Administrative Assistant
	Administrative Officer
	Assistant Scientific Officer
	Chief Typing Manager
	Communication Officer I
	Communication Officer II
	Communication Officer III
	Communication Officer IV
	Housing and Planning Inspectors (main grade and senior inspectors)
	Personal Secretary
	Process and General Supervisory Grades
	Senior Personal Secretary
	Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent Custody Guards
	Support Manager I
	Support Manager II
	Support Manager III
	Support Grade I
	Support Grade II
	Support Grade IIA
	Technical Grade 1 and 2
	Trainee Typist
	Typing Manager
	Typist
	Crown employees who worked in the former Department of Transport
	Administrative Assistant
	Administrative Officer
	Assistant Scientific Officer
	Chief Typing Manager
	Civil Engineer (SPTO and below)
	Personal Secretary
	Process and General Supervisory D
	Process and General Supervisory E
	Senior Personal Secretary
	SGB2 (Cleaner—less than 10 hours weekly)
	Stores Officer Grade D
	Support Grade—Band 1
	Support Grade—Band 2
	Support Grade—Band 2A
	Support Manager 1
	Support Manager 2
	Support Manager 3
	Teleprinter operator
	Typing Manager
	Typist and Trainee Typist.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what records are kept of temperatures in carriages on London Underground trains.

David Jamieson: This is an operational matter for London Underground, who inform me that they do not routinely record temperatures in trains and stations. In all instances of customers taken ill on trains and stations, where heat may be a contributing factor, this will be recorded as such.

Section 28

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to repeal Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988.

Nick Raynsford: The Government are committed to the repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. We shall do so as soon as parliamentary time is available.

Planning

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998 for planning appeals and, in particular, for third-party objectors to planning applications.

Sally Keeble: We assessed the implications of the Human Rights Act (HRA) for planning legislation and procedures before the Act came into force. We do not consider that there is any need on HRA grounds for changes to the appeals system generally or specifically in relation to third party objectors.

Planning

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers local authority planning officers have to require those proposing to convert existing buildings into flats to provide new shop fronts, pay for repairs to pavements and make a contribution towards local educational provision; and what powers local authority planning officers have to fix rents in respect of the new flats.

Sally Keeble: Under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as substituted by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, a planning obligation may be agreed between a Local Planning Authority and a developer. A planning obligation may require or restrict specified activities to be carried out and may require payments to be made to the authority either in a single sum or periodically. Such obligations could therefore cover provision of new shop fronts; payment for repairs to pavements; contributions towards local education provisions; and the fixing of rents, if this amounted to a restriction on the use of land. However, planning obligations should only be sought where they are necessary to make a proposal acceptable in land-use planning terms. In addition, they must be: relevant to planning; directly related to the proposed development; fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the proposed development; and reasonable in all other respects.

Planning

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning applications have been refused by local authorities and the planning inspectorate on the basis of human rights violations as set out in the Human Rights Act 1998, section 6(1) and in the Maastricht treaty, article 130r2; what action he will take against local authorities that refuse planning applications on such grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The information requested is not available. Planning applications and appeals are decided taking into account all of the relevant planning issues—one of which may in some cases be human rights. The introduction of the Human Rights Act means that all public authorities, including central Government and local authorities, must act compatibly with convention rights. It is ultimately for the courts to decide whether an individual's human rights have been unfairly interfered with in a particular case.

Planning

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning applications in Hampshire have been called in by him on grounds relating to the proposed housing densities in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000, indicating the specific reasons in each case.

Sally Keeble: No planning applications were called in 1998 or 1999 in Hampshire on grounds relating to housing densities. In year 2000, two planning applications in Hampshire relating to the provision of housing were called in for the Secretary of State's decision. In both cases the Secretary of State indicated that he wished to be informed, among other things, about the relationship of the proposed development to Government policy in Planning Policy Guidance Note PPG3, in particular in respect of the proposed density of the development, the advice in the PPG on a sequential approach to brownfield/greenfield sites, car parking provision and the provision of affordable housing.

Planning

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what average time was taken by the Secretary of State to decide upon a planning appeal against a decision made by Fareham borough council once an inspector had submitted his report to him in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000;
	(2)  what average time was taken for an inspector to report to the Secretary of State on an appeal against a planning decision made by Fareham borough council in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000.

Sally Keeble: In 1998 two planning appeals arising in Fareham borough council area were recovered for decision by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The average time taken for the Inspector to report to the Secretary of State was 78 days. The average time taken by the Secretary of State to decide the appeals once the Inspector had submitted his report was 46 days.
	No recovered planning appeals in Fareham were decided by the Secretary of State in 1999 or 2000.

Train Franchises

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the refranchising of South West Trains to Stagecoach was agreed by the SRA; and when it is planned to sign the franchise agreement.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority signed Head of Terms with Stagecoach as the preferred counterparty for the replacement South West Trains franchise on 30 March 2001. The parties are working towards signature of a franchise agreement and an announcement will be made in due course.

Night Flights

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what plans he has to assess the environmental disbenefits of night flights;
	(2)  what plans he has to assess the contribution that night flights make to the (a) national and (b) London economy;
	(3)  what plans he has to implement the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on night flights; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Government will issue their response to the ruling of the European Court on Human Rights on the future of night flights at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We will study the judgment carefully before deciding what action may be necessary. The judgment cannot become final for at least three months. There will be no immediate changes to the present situation.
	The Government are already in the process of commissioning a major study to reassess attitudes to aircraft noise, which will include further research into subjective responses to annoyance by night and by day. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 8 May 2001, Official Report, column 41W, to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Andy King). It would be premature to initiate further studies into any other aspects of night flights while we are considering the implications of this judgment.

Housing Stock

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average expenditure on capital improvements of (a) council and (b) registered social landlords in each year since 1997 is; and what plans he has to change the rule on capital investments in local authority housing.

Sally Keeble: The average expenditure on capital improvements by council landlords in each year since 1997 are 1997–98: £446 (22 per cent. of dwellings received work), 1998–99: £490 (23 per cent. of dwellings received work), 1999–2000: £479 (23 per cent. of dwellings received work). 2000–01 is £627 (this is a provisional figure based on authorities planned expenditure). Corresponding data are not collected centrally from Registered Social Landlords. We announced our intention to end direct control of local authority borrowing as part of a wider move to reform the local authority capital finance system. Details on the operation of the revised arrangements will be included in a White Paper, due to be published in the next few months.

Housing Stock

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the cost of holding housing stock transfer ballots per dwelling affected by local authority district that have conducted ballots in the last five years.

Sally Keeble: We do not hold this information.

Housing Stock

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list for each of the past five years the total housing stock for English local authorities held by (a) local councils, (b) registered social landlords and (c) housing companies.

Sally Keeble: The estimated total of the housing stock of local authorities and registered social landlords in England are given in the table.
	
		Number of dwellings (thousand) 
		
			 As at 1 April Local authority Registered social landlords 
		
		
			 1996 3,470 942 
			 1997 3,401 989 
			 1998 3,309 1,049 
			 1999 3,178 1,162 
			 2000 3,012 1,278 
		
	
	The number of dwellings held by housing companies is much smaller and is not distinguished from the numbers given.

Housing Stock

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on the number of (a) families in bed and breakfast, (b) families in other temporary accommodation and (c) total waiting lists for each London borough.

Sally Keeble: My Department seeks information about local authorities' activities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1996 on the quarterly P1 (E) housing returns. Data, which relate to households rather than individuals, include the number of households being temporarily housed by the authority, and separately distinguish those in bed-and-breakfast hotels, as well as other types of property such as hostels or privately leased accommodation. This information is summarised in a quarterly Statistical Release, the most recent of which was published on 12 September 2001 covering results up to the end of June 2001. Copies are available in the Library of the House and are on the DTLR website.
	Annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns also seek basic data on the total number of homeless households accommodated on 31 March, and this year additionally asked for confirmation of those in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. As in previous years, the 2001 HIP return also sought a range of summary information about the number of households on local authorities' housing registers. HIP data are made available on the DTLR website normally in December once the data have been checked and confirmed by the authorities.
	The latest available information as reported by London boroughs is presented in the table. This represents households without distinguishing between family groups and individuals.
	
		London boroughs' reported action under the homelessness provisions of Housing Acts
		
			  Decisions made during the period(10) April to June 2001  
			   Accepted as being homeless and in priority need Eligible, homeless and in priority need, but intentionally so Eligible, homeless but not in priority need Accommodated by the authority on 30 June 2001 in bed and breakfast Number of households on the Housing Register(11) as at 1 April 2000 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 38 7 9 1 1,925 
			 Barnet 331 11 101 139 5,489 
			 Bexley 104 3 150 84 3,592 
			 Brent 282 11 59 625 12,603 
			 Bromley 198 11 103 102 3,264 
			 Camden 288 25 87 46 5,884 
			 City of London 4 (12)— (12)— 4 787 
			 Croydon 275 12 347 500 6,265 
			 Ealing 211 14 203 436 7,709 
			 Enfield 315 4 57 268 6,001 
			 Greenwich 297 15 82 (12)— 5,473 
			 Hackney 209 3 25 160 7,011 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 189 3 22 423 4,726 
			 Haringey 320 6 (12)— 191 9,510 
			 Harrow 98 16 81 101 2,610 
			 Havering (13)— (13)— (13)— (13)— 1,738 
			 Hillingdon 313 10 103 473 3,656 
			 Hounslow (13)— (13)— (13)— (13)— 5,017 
			 Islington 277 13 229 118 11,590 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 165 12 31 699 8,206 
			 Kingston upon Thames (13)— (13)— (13)— (13)— 3,113 
			 Lambeth 312 24 61 261 16,220 
			 Lewisham 263 (12)— 143 (12)— 9,774 
			 Merton 44 4 36 36 3,920 
			 Newham 375 18 98 820 11,107 
			 Redbridge 109 7 3 242 3,555 
			 Richmond upon Thames 76 11 32 106 4,992 
			 Southwark (13)— (13)— (13)— (13)— 5,543 
			 Sutton 124 14 69 54 2,154 
			 Tower Hamlets 357 13 14 212 6,751 
			 Waltham Forest 289 25 67 144 7,476 
			 Wandsworth 202 8 126 282 2,441 
			 Westminster 291 17 172 901 8,099 
		
	
	(10) Decisions during the quarter are those where applicant households were found to be homeless and eligible for assistance under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1996 and associated legislation.
	(11) Local authorities have different practices for compiling and managing housing register/waiting lists which mean that simple comparisons between authorities can be misleading.
	(12) Nil
	(13) Information not reported
	Source:
	DTLR quarterly P1 (E) housing activity and annual Housing Investment Programme returns

Housing Stock

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the average investment by (a) registered social landlords and housing companies and (b) local authorities per dwelling where a large scale stock transfer ballot has been held.

Sally Keeble: The information requested cannot be provided for registered social landlords and housing companies because neither the Department nor the Housing Corporation collect or hold data in this form. For those local authorities where there has been a "no" vote in respect of large scale voluntary transfer, the table sets out average investment per local authority dwelling on an annual basis, derived from local authority Housing Investment Programme returns.
	
		Average expenditure per local authority dwellings -- £000
		
			   1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Rochford—November 1988 261 197 177 310 372 n/a 302 376 167 326 205 
			 Salisbury—December 1988 364 59 111 82 161 195 196 257 489 241 265 
			 Arun—January 1989 738 716 494 734 668 1,103 1,009 542 672 908 568 
			 Three Rivers—March 1986 124 384 193 293 421 1,139 1,334 966 1,030 1,552 1,695 
			 Canterbury—November 1989 — 666 n/a 538 444 755 619 631 851 616 1,141 
			 Brentwood—November 1989 — 146 n/a 237 267 317 272 190 225 225 256 
			 Redbridge—December 1989 — 833 1,108 1,165 821 883 1,315 1,206 921 1,089 964 
			 Bournemouth—January 1990 — 416 553 452 376 419 383 287 206 182 181 
			 Wokingham—April 1990 — 154 248 618 647 583 700 319 445 452 435 
			 South Holland—July 1990 — — 392 461 442 485 485 514 559 579 490 
			 North Kesteven—December 1990 — — 447 589 735 825 667 617 543 604 554 
			 Hillingdon—July 1992 — — — — 723 796 904 864 824 773 895 
			 Kingston—August 1992 — — — — 992 681 697 846 849 592 516 
			 North Somerset—August 1992 (Woodspring) — — — — 708 722 783 589 584 572 518 
			 Westminster—October 1993 — — — — — 1,281 1,283 1,158 1,536 1,628 1,342 
			 Maidstone—November 1993 — — — — — 463 619 682 778 340 331 
			 Poole—November 1993 — — — — — 400 330 298 405 506 245 
			 Cherwell—April 1994 — — — — — 219 280 445 202 653 328 
			 Castle Point—September 1994 — — — — — — 239 148 237 317 286 
			 Berwick—July 1996 — — — — — — — — 419 377 309 
			 Cheltenham—August 1997 — — — — — — — — — 179 239 
			 Cambridge—February 1999 — — — — — — — — — — 228

Cycle Routes

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the total length of dedicated cycle routes in each London borough; and what the figures were for roads for each of the past five years.

John Spellar: Policy on cycle routes in London is now a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London. However, information about the length of the London Cycle Network (LCN) in the London boroughs from April 1997 is set out in the table. Earlier information is not available. Any further information may be obtained from John Lee, the LCN Project Manager, at the following address:
	Royal Borough of Kingston
	Guildhall
	High Street
	Kingston upon Thames
	Surrey KT1 1EU.
	
		Length in km 
		
			 Borough April 1997 April 1998 April 1999 April 2000 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 31.867 22 30.6 29.4 
			 Barnet 37.131 47.7 56 62.3 
			 Bexley 13.342 7.2 17.3 18.7 
			 Brent 22.145 20.1 21.9 21.6 
			 Bromley 57.597 66.5 66 67.3 
			 Camden 18.048 19.1 26.1 22.5 
			 Croydon 32.227 49 56.9 67 
			 Ealing 65.267 65.3 64 63.5 
			 Enfield 16.974 13.9 18.1 20.4 
			 Greenwich 31.807 0 40.6 55.1 
			 Hackney 18.772 20.8 20.7 20.7 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 34.37 38.3 40.4 39.5 
			 Haringey 20.639 21.4 16.7 27.2 
			 Harrow 3.208 5.2 4.4 5.3 
			 Havering 8.242 21.4 15 30.7 
			 Hillingdon 54.407 46.7 57.6 59.3 
			 Hounslow 49.717 54.2 55.7 62.1 
			 Islington 19.041 19.2 20.8 20 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8.249 16.7 12.2 17.8 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 41.617 49.5 48 46.1 
			 Lambeth 7.508 12.6 28.3 12.4 
			 Lewisham 13.448 14.9 28 35.3 
			 London 0.019 0.2 0.7 9 
			 Merton 24.107 34.9 34.6 37.2 
			 Newham 2.994 22.7 21.2 34 
			 Redbridge 27.699 29.8 30.6 32.9 
			 Richmond 65.272 76.9 89.6 90.6 
			 Southwark 22.598 41.1 55.8 67.8 
			 Sutton 30.008 45.9 49.3 52.9 
			 Tower Hamlets 21.504 23.9 27 30.7 
			 Waltham Forest 36.882 49.3 45.3 53.5 
			 Wandsworth 59.259 67 74.4 88.3 
			 Westminster 11.914 31.3 42.2 44.3 
			  
			 Total 907.879 10,54.7 1,216 1,345.4

Single Regeneration Budgets

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what monitoring of the accountability of single regeneration budgets is undertaken by his Department.

Sally Keeble: Responsibility for monitoring the accountability of single regeneration budget partnerships has been delegated to the Regional Development Agencies. In London, this function rests with the London Development Agency, who are responsible to the Mayor and the Greater London Authority.
	My Department is responsible for the overall financial management and policy for the SRB programme. We monitor the RDAs' performance in managing the programme through the RDA sponsorship arrangements led by the Department of Trade and Industry.
	From April 2002, the SRB will be subsumed into the new Single Programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 9 March 2001.

Single Regeneration Budgets

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the expenditure to date of the Finsbury Park single regeneration budget; what its planned expenditure is in the remaining period of its life; and what monitoring of its expenditure is undertaken by his Department.

Sally Keeble: In London the Mayor and the London Development Agency are responsible for the single regeneration budget, including the monitoring of individual schemes. SRB expenditure to date on the Finsbury Park scheme is £3.4m out of the planned £25m over its lifetime.

Government Office for London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the annual cost of administration of the Government Office for London; and what his estimate is of future costs in each of the three years from April 2002.

Sally Keeble: The administration budget of the Government Office for London in 2001–02 is £12.6m.
	For 2002–03 it is anticipated that the funding from DTLR, DTI and DEFRA will remain the same as 2001–02. However the DfES allocation is expected to reduce by £401k giving an overall figure of £12.2m. Funding for work to be undertaken on behalf of other Departments has yet to be agreed.
	Estimated costs for 2003–04 and in 2004–05 is £11.8m, reflecting an expected further reduction in 2003–04 of DfES funding. These estimates do not anticipate the potential extension of GOL's work in new programmes.

Tufnell Park

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions have been held with Railtrack and Silverlink concerning the opening of a station at Tufnell Park on the Barking to Gospel Oak line; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: None. The Sponsors of any proposed new station should discuss feasibility initially with the train operator and Railtrack. The Strategic Rail Authority's Rail Passenger Partnership scheme is a potential source of funding for schemes which may not be commercial but offer wider benefits.

Ebley Wharf

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will call in the planning application at Ebley Wharf, Stroud district following his announcement on building in the flood plains under PPG25.

Sally Keeble: The Secretary of State has considered whether to call-in the planning application at Ebley Wharf, Stroud district, against his policy for the use of call-in powers. Having carefully considered the issues raised, including those related to policy in the recently published PPG 25, it was decided not to intervene in this particular application.

Mobile Phone Masts

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what consultations with interested parties he has had in relation to damages claims arising out of the impact of mobile phone masts following research being carried out into their effects on health, and the recommendations of the report of Sir William Stewart.

Sally Keeble: The Department has not been approached in relation to damage claims arising out of the impact of mobile phone masts following research being carried out into their effects on health, and the recommendations of the Report of Sir William Stewart.

Mobile Phone Masts

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review planning guidance on mobile phone masts taking account of the decision of the Austrian high court in favour of Ms Wulf-Dietrich Rose against Max Mobil on 12 July.

Sally Keeble: The Supreme Court of Appeal of the Republic of Austria reported its decision on a case between Wulf-Dietrich Rose and Max Mobil on 26 April 2001. The case involved a claim for defamation and centres around the rules for freedom of expression. Planning Policy Guidance Note 8, 'Telecommunications' (PPG8) does not prevent freedom of expression. It is not therefore necessary to review PPG8 in the light of this case.

Best Value

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his latest estimate is of (a) the cost and (b) the cash benefit to local authorities of implementing best value.

Sally Keeble: £52 million has been allocated in 2001–02 to local authorities in England and the Audit Commission to cover the cost of best value audit and inspection. No reliable estimates exist as to the other administrative costs incurred by authorities in complying with their duty under the Local Government Act 1999. It is for individual authorities to decide how to allocate their resources to achieve improvements in performance and cost efficiency, sufficient to meet the 2 per cent. per annum cost efficiency target for local government as a whole against an annual budget in 2001–02 of £57 billion.

Local Transport Plans

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the cost of (a) preparing and (b) implementing local transport plans.

Sally Keeble: The introduction of local transport plans has been widely welcomed by local authorities. The Government expect that the move to five year plans, and the need to take a broader, more holistic view of planning transport in the context of related issues such as land use planning could produce cost savings and efficiency gains compared with the previous system of annual bidding.
	Our Ten Year Plan for Transport provided a step change in investment for the implementation of local transport plans. Over the period of the Ten Year plan some £19.3 billion of capital resources are available. We announced in December 2000 an £8.4 billion package covering the first five years' of that investment.

Local Roads

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what funds are available to enable local authorities to upgrade local roads to deal with the changes in traffic volumes arising from the Government's housing quotas.

Sally Keeble: The Government do not issue housing quotas. Housing requirements are established by local authorities and Regional Planning Bodies through the Regional Planning Guidance process and finalised by the Secretary of State.
	Government planning policy seeks to promote more sustainable transport choices and to reduce the need to travel, especially by car, by accommodating housing principally on previously-developed land within urban areas and at locations highly accessible by walking, cycling and public transport.
	Capital funding for local road improvements for authorities in England outside London is available through the local transport plan system. In developing and implementing their local transport plans, authorities need to ensure consistency between their proposed transport strategies and housing proposals contained within the relevant regional and local development plans.

High Hedges

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to control high hedges in residential areas.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to introduce (a) planning and (b) other controls on high hedges.

Sally Keeble: The Government will introduce legislation giving local authorities powers to deal with complaints about high hedges in residential areas as soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable.

High Hedges

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to give local authorities the power to fell nuisance cupressocyparis leylandii on private land.

Sally Keeble: As soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable, we will introduce legislation giving local authorities the power to deal with complaints about high hedges on private land. Under our proposals, authorities would be able to require landowners to keep the height of problem hedges within specified limits, but their powers would not extend to felling.

Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact on European and British air traffic cover of the postponement of the construction of the Prestwick air traffic control centre;
	(2)  what representations he has received from National Air Traffic Control about the postponement of the construction of the Prestwick air traffic control centre.
	(3)  what are the implications for air safety of the postponement of the construction of Prestwick air traffic control centre;
	(4)  what meetings she (a) has had and (b) has planned to discuss the postponement of the construction of the Prestwick air traffic control centre;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on progress with plans to construct an air traffic control centre at Prestwick.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is his estimate of the opening date of the new Prestwick air traffic control centre.

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent changes there have been to the timetable for the planned operational date of the new Scottish air traffic control centre; and what ministerial approval is required for such changes.

David Jamieson: National Air Traffic Services (NATS) remains committed to investing in the New Scottish Centre (NSC) at Prestwick as part of its two-centre strategy. However, the events of 11 September have led to a review of the phasing of NATS' capital investment plan, and my officials have been in close and continuing discussion with NATS and the Airline Group on these matters.
	As a result of this review, and in the light of reduced traffic demand, the Government have agreed to a proposal to delay work on the NSC, which will result in a later operational date than originally planned. Work on the building will be suspended, following completion of the building design and piling contracts at the end of 2001. However, work will continue on evaluating systems solutions for this new centre. NATS will keep the position under review, and launch further work as soon as traffic forecasts make it prudent to do so.
	The delay will not affect the service NATS provides to its customers or the high levels of safety it applies to operations.

NATS

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Airline Group since 11 September on the future of National Air Traffic Services;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the sale of the National Air Traffic Services in respect of the downturn in air passenger demand since 11 September;

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Airline Group following the reduction in transatlantic air traffic; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The events of 11 September are having a wide-ranging impact on the airline industry. National Air Traffic Services and the Airline Group are preparing their business plan in the light of this, and my officials are in close and continuing discussion with them.

NATS

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the effect on Exchequer revenues of the sell-off of the National Air Traffic Services; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Government have received proceeds totalling almost £770 million from the sale of a minority share in National Air Traffic Services to the Airline Group. There is a further £35 million due as deferred proceeds.

Central Railway

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the Government's policy towards the Central Railway project.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority has carried out, with the help of consultants, a high level review into Central Railway's proposals and has forwarded its report to my Department. The Government will take a view on the issues raised by the report and respond to Central Railway in due course.

Bus Usage

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the total number of passenger miles travelled by bus in each of the last four years.

Sally Keeble: The Department does not collect separate information on bus passenger miles. Estimates are made of combined bus and coach passenger mileage, but these are not sufficiently robust to provide accurate year-on- year comparisons.
	The number of passenger journeys is considered to be a better measure of bus use, and we have set a target to increase bus passenger journeys in England by 10 per cent. by 2010. We are monitoring this through a large annual sample survey, and the most recent figures for England are as follows:
	
		Bus passenger journeys
		
			  Million 
		
		
			 1996–97 3,753 
			 1997–98 3,773 
			 1998–99 3,719 
			 1999–2000 3,736 
		
	
	Provisional figures for 2000–01 will be published on 18 October.

Jet-Skis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many accidents including injury or fatalities to humans have taken place around the British coastline involving jet-skis in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: HM Coastguard incident reports record a total of 586 incidents involving personal watercraft between January 1997 and 30 September 2001 around the UK coastline. Four fatalities were recorded. No information is available on the number of injuries. Records for 1996 are not readily available but a breakdown by year is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Year Number of incidents Number of fatalities 
		
		
			 1997 115 3 
			 1998 140 1 
			 1999 147 0 
			 2000 150 0 
			 2001(14) 138 0 
		
	
	(14) to 30 September 2001

Key Worker Housing Grants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those bids he has received from local authorities under the key worker housing grant scheme involving NHS staff.

Sally Keeble: Eight bids were received from local authorities under the Starter Home Initiative which included NHS staff among the groups targeted for assistance to purchase homes. These are:
	London borough of Tower Hamlets
	Guildford borough council
	Southampton county council
	Cotswold district council
	Swindon borough council
	Cambridgeshire county council on behalf of a consortium of employers A joint bid from Bristol City council and South Gloucestershire council
	A joint bid from Eastbourne borough council, Hastings district council, Lewes district council, Rother district council and Wealden district council.
	A number of these bids will be administered by Registered Social Landlords. Bids to assist NHS staff were also submitted by other organisations including Registered Social Landlords.

Swanick Air Traffic Control Centre

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the Government's latest estimate is of the opening date of the Swanick air traffic control centre.

David Jamieson: The planned operational date for the New En Route Centre at Swanick remains 27 January 2002.

Council Houses

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council houses were built in London in the years (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, (e) 1999–2000 and (f) 2000–01.

Sally Keeble: A total of 103 council houses were built between 1995 and 1998 and since then no council houses have been built to date. A breakdown of actual figures by borough is given in the table:
	
		Council houses built between 1995 to 2001
		
			  1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Total 1995 to 2001 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham — (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 0 
			 Barnet — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bexley — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Brent — 0 0 (15)— (15)— (15)— 0 
			 Bromley — 0 (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 0 
			 Camden — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 City of London — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ealing — 0 0 0 0 (15)— 0 
			 Enfield — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greenwich — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hackney — 22 34 (15)— 0 0 56 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Haringey — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Harrow — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Havering — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hillingdon — (15)— 2 (15)— 0 0 2 
			 Hounslow — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Islington — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kingston upon Thames — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lambeth — (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 0 
			 Lewisham — (15)— 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merton — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newham — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Redbridge — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Southwark — (15)— (15)— (15)— 0 0 0 
			 Sutton — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets — (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 0 
			 Waltham Forest — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wandsworth — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Westminster — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Total (16)45 22 36 0 0 0 103 
		
	
	(15) Source: DTLR Housing Stats. Data not available because the LA reported for nine months or less
	(16) Total for 1995–96 sourced from DTLR Housing Stats 2000. Break down by each borough not available

Infrastructure Projects

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce proposals for a statutory duty to consult local residents on major infrastructure projects.

Sally Keeble: The local planning authority already has a statutory duty to advertise major development in a newspaper and either issue a site notice or notify neighbours.
	The new measures for streamlining the handling of major infrastructure projects announced by my right hon. Friend on 20 July 2001 will ensure opportunities for the public to make their views known through consultation about statements of national infrastructure policy, a right to object before Parliament considers the principle of major infrastructure projects, and at public inquiries into the detailed aspects of projects.

Infrastructure Projects

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what definition of a Crown development is used by his Department in relation to infrastructure projects.

Sally Keeble: "Crown development" is the common usage term for development by or on behalf of the Crown on Crown land, and as such is not defined in statute.
	"Crown land" is defined in section 293 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as land where there is a Crown interest or a Duchy interest. "Crown interest" means an interest belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown or belonging to a Government Department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a Government Department. "Duchy interest" means an interest belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Duchy of Lancaster or belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall.
	There is no special meaning attached to "crown development" in relation to infrastructure projects.

Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will reply to the letters of the hon. Member for West Derbyshire dated 26 July and 10 September about planning consent for a housing development in Duffield, Derbyshire.

Sally Keeble: The Minister for Housing and Planning replied to the hon. Member on 14 September and 5 October respectively indicating that the Secretary of State would take account of the hon. Member's concerns, and those of his constituents, in his consideration of whether to call in an application for housing development in Duffield.

Correspondence

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will reply to the hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford's letter of 26 February regarding channel tunnel rail link blight.

David Jamieson: Following a thorough review of the case of his former constituents, I replied to my hon. Friend on 26 September.

National Homelessness Strategy

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date the responses to the consultation national homelessness strategy will be published.

Sally Keeble: A summary of responses to the consultation on the national homelessness strategy will be published on the DTLR Housing internet site on 7 December 2001. Respondents to the consultation will be notified of its publication.

Regional Chambers

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the (a) expenditure in each of the last five years was and (b) budgets for the years 2001–02 and 2002–03 are with respect to the acquisition of property for use by, or with respect to, regional chambers.

Alan Whitehead: The regional chambers were designated by the Secretary of State following the establishment of Regional Development Agencies in 1999. They have been established voluntarily by bodies representing the interests of each region. Their running costs are a matter for the chambers and their members. The Government have however, allocated £500,000 this year to each regional chamber, with an additional £1 million for chambers to use collectively, to help them establish a stronger strategic and scrutiny role within the regions.

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre.

Alan Whitehead: My Department has undertaken a review of the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, which has been an Executive Agency since 1989. The review considered all the organisational aspects for the agency, taking into account its role and past performance, its fit with wider objectives, and the relationship with other bodies in the public and private sectors. Staff and trade unions have been consulted as part of the review.
	The key findings of the review were:
	There have been substantial improvements in the centre's performance over the last 5 years, with a 30 per cent. increase in turnover. Current performance is considered to be near the optimum for conference use.
	Most of the centre's business derives from the private sector and associations.
	The centre is seen as an important London facility, attracting considerable business tourism.
	The review does not recommend contracting out or privatisation, which it considers may be difficult to implement, and would be poor value for money. It also concluded that any market interest in the site is likely to relate to redevelopment for uses other than a conference centre.
	In the light of the review findings, I have decided that the public sector status and role of the QEII conference centre should not be changed. I have, however, asked officials, over the longer term, to keep under review options for ownership of the QEIICC within the public sector.
	A summary of the review findings is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Working Time Directive

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the working time directive on the road haulage industry.

David Jamieson: In March 1998, the Department of Trade and Industry published a regulatory assessment covering the costs and benefits of working time legislation. The assessment covered all sectors of employment in the UK, including excluded sectors such as the road haulage industry. A copy of the assessment was deposited in the Libraries of the House.
	Since then, the Government have held regular meetings with both sides of industry to discuss the impact of the latest proposals on the haulage industry.

Working Time Directive

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the working time directive on the bus and coach industry.

David Jamieson: In March 1998, the Department of Trade and Industry published a regulatory assessment covering the costs and benefits of working time legislation. The assessment covered all sectors of employment in the UK, including excluded sectors such as the bus and coach industry. A copy of the assessment was deposited in the Libraries of the House.
	Bus drivers on local routes will not be affected by the latest working time proposals for mobile workers in the road transport sector. However, the Government have held regular meetings with both sides of the bus and coach industry to discuss the impact of the proposals on those parts of the industry which they will affect.

Aviation and Airports

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he intends to publish a White Paper on aviation and airports.

David Jamieson: We intend to publish an air transport White Paper in the second half of 2002.

Night Working

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on peak hour congestion of an eight-hour limit on night working for mobile workers.

David Jamieson: From our regular meetings with industry, we are fully aware of the problem that an eight-hour limit for night workers is likely to have on daytime congestion. That is why the Government support the 10-hour limit included in the Council's common position.

Road Safety

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to improve safety measures on (a) trunk roads and (b) roads extensively used by heavy goods vehicles.

David Jamieson: In March of last year, the Government published their road safety strategy and casualty reduction targets for 2010 with the document "Tomorrow's roads: safer for everyone". At the same time, the Highways Agency published a Strategic Plan for improving safety on the trunk road network in England. The documents describe the measures to improve road safety that will be a mixture of education, engineering and enforcement measures.
	The Government's current targeted programme of improvements to trunk roads contains proposals for some 25 bypasses that will remove through traffic, particularly heavy goods vehicles, from towns and villages. Additional schemes may well be added as a result of the programme of multi-modal studies currently being undertaken. The Government have also given the go-ahead for a further 23 bypass schemes on local authority roads in the last two years as part of the Local Transport Settlement. Bids for further schemes are currently being considered and decisions will be announced in December.

East-West Transport Links

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the relative (a) cost and (b) environmental impact of upgrading east-west (i) road links and (ii) rail links between (A) Huntingdon and Cambridge, (B) Cambridge and Bedford, (C) Bedford and Milton Keynes and (D) Milton Keynes and Oxford.

David Jamieson: In the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study, a full assessment of the relative costs and environmental impacts has been undertaken on a wide range of road and rail options for improving the links between Huntingdon and Cambridge. This study has now reported and the recommendations are being considered by the Regional Planning Body.
	The London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study will be looking at long term, sustainable solutions to the difficulties of east-west travel across the study area. In assessing possible solutions, infrastructure costs and their environmental impacts will be taken fully into account. This study is expected to report at the end of 2002.

East-West Transport Links

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to upgrade east-west road links from (a) Huntingdon to Cambridge, (b) Cambridge to Bedford, (c) Bedford to Milton Keynes and (d) Milton Keynes to Oxford.

David Jamieson: The east-west road links between Huntingdon and Cambridge have been studied by the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study. The consultants undertaking this study have made their recommendations and these have been considered by the Regional Planning Body for the East of England. The Regional Planning Body is expected to make its views known to the Secretary of State in due course.
	East-west road links between Cambridge and Bedford, and between Bedford and Milton Keynes are being studied by the London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study. This study commenced in 2000 and is expected to report at the end of 2002.
	The Strategic Roads Network between Milton Keynes and Oxford is under continuous review, however at this stage the Government have no plans to upgrade the road links.

Mobile Homes

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to bring forward legislation to amend the law affecting mobile homes.

Sally Keeble: Changes to the legislation relating to mobile homes were included in the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party, published last year. We have consulted on, and are considering, the Working Party's recommendations.

Gazumping and Gazundering

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to prevent gazumping and gazundering by house buyers and sellers.

Sally Keeble: As set out in our manifesto, we will make it easier for people buying and selling homes through a seller's pack. This will provide at the very start of the process information needed to enable home buyers and sellers to make informed decisions, and assist transactions to proceed smoothly. The seller's pack will reduce significantly the period between offer acceptance and exchange of contracts, thereby narrowing the window during which gazumping, gazundering and other problems can occur.

Harbour Authorities

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures are in place to ensure that a harbour authority's powers and duties are not exercised to the detriment of other users or otherwise unfairly, where that harbour authority is also the dominant user of a harbour.

David Jamieson: Harbour authorities derive their duties and powers from local and national legislation. Parliament has conferred those duties and powers in a way that strikes a balance between the two and it is incumbent upon harbour authorities to exercise them reasonably. There is no special provision for ports where the harbour authority is also a shipping operator. Parliament has not given my Department any general powers of oversight in respect of harbour authorities' functions.
	One important duty, almost invariably incorporated in local legislation, is commonly called the "the open port duty". This provides that upon payment of ship, passenger and goods dues the harbour shall be open to all persons for the shipping and unshipping of goods, and the embarking and landing of passengers. Although these dues may be set as the authority sees fit, they are subject to a statutory right of objection under section 31 of the Harbours Act 1964 which gives the Secretary of State the power to direct an authority to review dues if, after proper consideration, he considers that they are unreasonable.

DL Registrations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many DL registrations remained unissued at 1 September 2001 in each of the following series (a) two letters, up to four digits, (b) three letters, up to three digits, (c) up to four digits, two letters, (d) up to three digits, three letters, (e) three letters, up to three digits, year suffix, and (f) year prefix, up to three digits, three letters.

David Jamieson: Approximate numbers of vehicle registration marks in categories (a) to (d) are as follows:
	(a) None remain
	(b) None remain
	(c) 9,940
	(d) 20,000
	(e) 355,000
	(f) 388,000.
	Exact figures cannot be provided as some marks have been allocated over the years, for instance to imported vehicles or those sold through the sale of marks scheme.

Seller's Packs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to reintroduce legislation requiring seller's packs to be produced by those selling houses.

Sally Keeble: Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time allows. In the meantime we are pressing ahead, in consultation with consumer representatives and the professional bodies, with developing the detailed contents of the seller's pack.

House Sales and Purchases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce to England elements of the Scottish system of house sales and purchases.

Sally Keeble: It is already open to sellers and buyers of homes in England to follow the Scottish arrangements if they wish. This does not require a change in the law. It is also worth noting that these arrangements are not mandatory in Scotland, but have become established by custom and practice.
	Our consultation paper 'the key to easier home buying and selling', published in December 1998, discussed the Scottish arrangements. Most people responding on this issue agreed with the analysis that these arrangements have potential drawbacks and would not work well in more active housing markets in England and Wales.

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Alan Whitehead: The Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Central) is not carrying out any significant building projects in either financial year 2001–02 or 2002–03.
	It is carrying out two maintenance projects valued at more than £1 million each where air conditioning chiller plant is being replaced. These are in the International Maritime Organisation building, and at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
	Both projects are at a stage where commercial sensitivities militate against publication of the precise values of these projects.

Transport Projects

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the location and cost of transport projects over £1 million was in each region and nation of the United Kingdom which has received Government funding (a) in whole and (b) in part and (i) are being constructed and (ii) have been constructed under (A) PPP and (B) PFI; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The following table provides details of the PFI and PPP transport projects valued at over £1 million in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and states whether the projects have completed their construction phase, or are under construction, and whether they have received Government funding.
	
		Government funding of PFI and PPP projects in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
		
			  Name of Project  Location Cost (£ million) Government funding? 
		
		
			  PFI transport projects in England (constructed) 
			 Highways Agency A69 North East and North West 9 No (PFI) 
			 Highways Agency A50 East Midlands and West Midlands 21 No (PFI) 
			 Highways Agency A19 North East and Yorkshire and Humber 29 No (PFI) 
			 Highways Agency A417/419 South West 49 No (PFI) 
			 Highways Agency M40 South East and West Midlands 65 No (PFI) 
			 Highways Agency A30/35 South West 75 No (PFI) 
			 Highways Agency A1(M) Eastern 128 No (PFI) 
			 Highways Agency M1/A1 Yorkshire and Humber 214 No (PFI) 
			 London Underground Northern Line Trains London 409 No (PFI) 
			 
			  PFI transport projects in England (under construction) 
			 Highways Agency Birmingham Northern Relief Road West Midlands 485 No (Concession) 
			 Brent street lighting London 8 (17)Yes 
			 Doncaster Interchange Yorkshire and Humber 26.2 (17)Yes 
			 Vehicle Inspectorate MOT Computerisation UK 31 No (PFI) 
			 A130 (A12-A127) Eastern 90 (17)Yes 
			 Nottingham Express Transit East Midlands 140 (17)Yes 
			 London Underground British Transport Police London 13 No (PFI) 
			 London Underground Connect London 355 No (PFI) 
			 London Underground Power London 108 No (PFI) 
			 London Transport Prestige London 137 No (PFI) 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in England (constructed) 
			 Highways Agency Second Severn Crossing South West 331 No (concession) 
			 Highways Agency Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (Dartford River Crossing) South East 180 No (concession) 
			 Midland Metro West Midlands 145 Yes (capital grant) 
			 Docklands Light Railway Extension to Lewisham London 202 Yes (capital grant) 
			 Croydon Tramlink London 205 Yes (capital grant) 
			 Manchester Metrolink Extension to Salford Quays and Eccles North West 160 Yes (capital grant) 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in England (under construction) 
			 Channel Tunnel Rail Link South East 4,178 Yes (capital grant) 
			 
			  PFI transport projects in Wales (constructed) 
			 A55 — 100 No (PFI) 
			 
			  PFI transport projects in Wales (under construction) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in Wales (constructed) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in Wales (under construction) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 
			  PFI transport projects in Scotland (constructed) 
			 Skye Bridge — 23.6 (18)Yes 
			 M6 DBFO — 96 No (PFI) 
			 Inverness Airport Terminal—Highlands and Islands — 9.5 No (PFI) 
			 
			  PFI transport projects in Scotland (under construction) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in Scotland (constructed) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in Scotland (under construction) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 PFI transport projects in Northern Ireland (constructed) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 
			  PFI transport projects in Northern Ireland (under construction) 
			 DVTA Vehicle Testing Project — 11 No (PFI) 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in Northern Ireland (constructed) 
			 N/a — — — 
			 
			  PPP transport projects in Northern Ireland (under construction) 
			 N/a — — — 
		
	
	(17) Local authority PFI attracting additional revenue support
	(18) Although a concession, Government grant was payable to funding the construction of approach roads.
	Note:
	For the purposes of this table the cost of a project is deemed to be its capital value

Departmental Spending

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Alan Whitehead: The total running costs for the buildings used, owned, or rented by DTLR, including the Government Office Estate, is £103.6 million per annum. We do not hold this figure at regional or national level.
	The average cost per square metre for properties across the Department is £292. The average figures for the nine English regions and Scotland and Wales are listed in the table.
	
		£ 
		
			 Region Cost per m(20) 
		
		
			 East Midlands 210 
			 East of England 210 
			 Greater London 470 
			 North East 210 
			 North West 125 
			 South East 275 
			 South West 305 
			 West Midlands 270 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 160 
			 Scotland 260 
			 Wales (19)70 
		
	
	(19) This figure is distorted because DVLC Swansea is a freehold. No notional rent is included because this information is not available. The figure for Wales excluding the DVLC is £152 per square metre.
	Note:
	1. The information and analysis provided is for the DTLR's 135 key properties, i.e. those buildings over 350 m
	(20) . These properties account for 76 per cent. of the total running costs of the Estate, 95 per cent. of the staff and 74% of floor area of the total property portfolio.
	2. The costs are as provided by DTLR and its agencies under the headings: Rent, Rates, Service Charge, Utilities, All Maintenance, and Additional running costs.

London Weighting

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the total value of London Weightings and London living allowances for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions consists of a Central Department and 10 Executive Agencies. The Central Department and seven of the Agencies do not pay a London Weighting Allowance. Where this had been paid previously it has been consolidated into basic salaries. Three of the Agencies continue to pay a London Weighting allowance:
	Vehicle Inspectorate: £2,300.
	Driving Standards Agency has three rates: £736 for outer London areas, £1,015 for intermediate London areas and £1,776 for the Inner London Area.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency also has three rates: £805 for outer London areas, £1,015 for intermediate London areas and £1,715 for the Inner London Area.

Housing Debt

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list those local authorities which have applied to HM Treasury for moneys to pay off overhanging housing debt; and if he will list those local authorities which (a) have received such moneys since May 1997 and (b) will receive such moneys pending residents' voting in favour of housing stock transfers;
	(2)  if he will list the criteria used to determine the order of preference in which local authorities which have applied to HM Treasury for moneys to pay off overhanging housing debt receive such moneys.

Sally Keeble: A stock transfer proposal from a local authority with overhanging housing debt is required to meet the same criteria as other applicant authorities in order to obtain a place on the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) Programme and, if tenants support the proposal, the Secretary of State's consent to transfer. The receipt from the transfer must be sufficient to meet the premium payable to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) for early repayment of the authority's PWLB debt.
	To date, four one-off payments have been made by the Exchequer to meet overhanging housing debt. In 1999–2000 a payment was made to Burnley borough council. In 2000–01 payments were made to Coventry city council, Calderdale borough council and Blackburn with Darwen borough council.
	Six local authorities on the 2001–02 transfer programme (Bradford city council, Carlisle city council, Dudley metropolitan borough council, Knowsley metropolitan borough council, St. Helens metropolitan borough council and Walsall metropolitan borough council) will potentially require a one-off payment to meet their overhanging housing debt. I have held open a place on the 2001–02 Programme for Birmingham city council, subject to agreeing its stock valuation. If Birmingham is accepted onto the programme, it too will require a one-off payment from the Department.
	To date, all proposals meeting the Secretary of State's criteria and gaining the support of a majority of tenants have been granted consent to transfer. It has not been necessary to prioritise transfer applications.

Second Home Owners

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the total revenue which would be raised by local authorities as a result of a change in law requiring second home owners to pay the full council tax at current levels, broken down by local authority area.

Alan Whitehead: Second home owners are presently entitled to a 50 per cent. council tax discount. If all had been required to pay the full council tax in 2001–02, we estimate that an additional amount of approximately £80 million would have been raised. Accurate figures for individual local authority areas are not available.
	In the Rural White Paper, we said that we would consult on giving local authorities discretion to remove or reduce the 50 per cent. council tax discount for second home owners. We will also consult on giving local authorities discretion to remove or reduce the 50 per cent. discount for long-term empty properties.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Prisoner Deaths

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners (a) committed suicide, and (b) died in custody in 2000–01.

Beverley Hughes: The figures requested are given in the table:
	
		Table showing the number of deaths that occurred in prison establishments in England and Wales for the financial year 2000–01
		
			 Financial Year Self inflicted deaths(21) Natural causes deaths Homicides 
		
		
			 2000–01 76 60 2 
		
	
	(21) The term "self-inflicted deaths" includes not only those deaths which resulted in a verdict of "suicide" at the Coroner's Inquest, but also those deaths where it appears that the person's own actions caused his/her death. Such deaths might result in a verdict of "open" or "misadventure" at the Inquest if, for example, there was doubt about the person's intent to take his/her life.
	Comparable figures for 1999–2000 were 91 self- inflicted deaths, 54 natural causes and one homicide.
	The Prison Service undertook a review of suicide prevention procedures last year and subsequently announced a new proactive strategy to reduce suicides in Prison. The strategy is overseen by a Working Group which I chair.

Prisons

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total expenditure was on education in prisons in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; what was the real terms change in each year; what was the total amount per prisoner based on average prison population figures in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 July 2001
	The information in the table is available for certain identifiable areas of education expenditure, covering payments to education and library service providers and purchase of education materials. It does not include the private sector managed prisons. The cost per prisoner calculation excludes the average population figures for those prisons.
	It should be noted that due to changes in the way expenditure has been recorded the figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 include VAT payments, where applicable, but do not include refunds to prisons of any recoverable VAT, details of which are not readily available, whereas the figures for the preceding three years do include such refunds.
	
		Expenditure on education 1991–92 to 2000–01
		
			 Year Actual spend (£) At 2000–01 prices (£) Percentage change (22)Average population (22)Average cost per head at 2000–01 prices (£) 
		
		
			 1991–92 29,372,748 36,951,501 — 45,162 818 
			 1992–93 31,227,172 38,042,946 2.95 43,705 870 
			 1993–94 31,089,033 36,896,112 -3.01 45,106 818 
			 1994–95 36,756,960 43,017,262 16.59 47,784 900 
			 1995–96 36,956,087 42,041,895 -2.27 49,574 848 
			 1996–97 34,507,378 38,032,622 -9.54 54,359 700 
			 1997–98 36,174,320 38,770,385 1.94 60,739 638 
			 1998–99 39,049,875 40,690,517 4.95 60,751 670 
			 1999–2000(23) 47,445,945 48,338,269 18.79 59,857 808 
			 2000–01(23) 50,890,134 50,890,134 5.28 59,044 862 
		
	
	(22) Excluding privately operated prisons
	(23) Due to changes in the recording of expenditure the figures are not all on a like for like basis. Those for 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 are net of recoverable VAT, where applicable. Whereas those for previous years and those for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are gross expenditure with no reduction for VAT refunds.

Prisoners' Conditions

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time out of cell was for prisoners in 2000–01.

Beverley Hughes: The average weekday time out of cell for prisoners during the year 2000–01 was 10 hours.

Prisoners' Conditions

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy and (b) the equal availability of education and training facilities for inmates in Her Majesty's prisons.

Beverley Hughes: The Government have put additional resources into education and training in prisons. Direct expenditure on education and library provision alone currently stands at over £55 million for all prisoners including juveniles, and is set to increase to around £70 million by 2003–04. The Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit, based at the Department for Education and Skills, has been established to advise on how to fulfil the Government's policy to bring about dramatic improvements in the quality and quantity of prison education and training. It will be looking, among other things, at how to ensure equality of access to high-quality provision across the prison estate.

Asylum Detainees

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women are being held in detention in England and Wales pending the hearing of their asylum appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The latest available information on the number of asylum seekers detained under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 June 2001. As of that date, 1,205 males and 30 females (to the nearest five) were being held in detention in England and Wales under Immigration Act powers who are recorded as having claimed asylum at some point. These figures include persons held in immigration detention centres and Prison Service establishments, some of whom are detained under dual immigration and other powers, and exclude the Oakington reception centre, for which gender information is not available.
	Information on which of these are pending the hearing of their asylum appeal is not available and could be obtained only by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Oakington Reception Centre

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum applications sent to Oakington reception centre who have a negative initial decision, have had that decision overturned on appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 5 July 2001
	On the basis of provisional Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) data up to 23 September, 5 per cent. of all those applicants sent to Oakington reception centre, who have had an appeal determined, have had their initial decision overturned by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority.

Kosovo

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Department for International Development on policies to support the rural economy in Kosovo to help reduce the pressure of economic migration to (a) the UK and (b) other countries in the European Union.

Angela Eagle: Our Departments have engaged in extensive discussion on all aspects of the Kosovo crisis. In 1999–2000 the United Kingdom committed £110 million to humanitarian assistance, including support to Kosovan refugees in neighbouring countries. In January 2000 it was agreed the UK would commit a further £5 million a year to a longer-term programme of technical assistance, including mine clearance and improvements to community infrastructure. We also participate in the work of the European Commission, which focuses on helping to restart the rural community, including by providing agricultural inputs and audits for farmers and other rural workers.
	The aim of the Government's engagement in the Balkans is to promote peace and stability and alleviate poverty in the region. Providing stability and economic opportunities for the people of Kosovo is an essential pre-requisite to reducing emigration pressures.

Cleansing Tablets (Prisons)

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when the evaluation of the pilot project into the provision of cleansing tablets in prisons to reduce transmission of HIV and hepatitis viruses will be made available;
	(2)  when the pilot project on the provision of cleansing tablets in prisons to reduce transmission of HIV and hepatitis viruses will be expanded throughout the country.

Beverley Hughes: The pilot project run by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has finished. The Prison Service is about to report on the findings and I shall write to my hon. Friend when I have considered the recommendations.

Condoms

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list the prisons in England and Wales that distributed condoms to inmates in the last year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: This information is not currently collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Special Constables

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables were recruited in the Thames Valley force; and how many special constables left the force, in each year from 1996 to 2000.

John Denham: The recruitment and wastage figures for Thames Valley Special Constabulary for the period 30 September 1996 to 30 September 2000 are set out in the tables.
	
		
			 Year Recruitment Wastage 
		
		
			 1996 185 168 
			 1997 173 220 
			 1998 74 122 
			 1999 65 101 
			 2000 46 114 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistics provided by Research, Development and Statistics Department
	The Government are committed to increasing the special constabulary and we are looking carefully at radical improvements in their management, welfare and deployment as part of the police reform process.

Special Constables

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what roles are performed by special constables in the West Midlands Police Force.

John Denham: Special constables perform a variety of duties in the West Midlands Police Force. These include high-visibility foot patrol, supporting regular officers at public events, crime prevention initiatives and traffic- related duties. Specials also perform driving duties, following up inquiries and attending to non-urgent call-outs.

Private Finance Initiative

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the PFI contracts entered into since 1997, indicating (a) the value of the PFI, (b) the name of the successful contractor, (c) those PFIs which have benefited from refinancing arrangements, (d) the value of the benefit accrued to the company concerned and (e) the extent of the clawback.

David Blunkett: From the best information available, I list the details requested.
	
		
			   Title  (a) Value £ (exc. VAT)   (b) Name of successful contractor  (c) Benefited from refinancing? (d) Value of benefit accrued to company aconcerned  (e) Extent of clawback 
		
		
			 IT2000 (Sirius) 360 million ICL Alcedo Ltd. (Prime Contractor ICL UK Ltd.—key sub-contractors: PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Global Crossing No n/a n/a 
			 Criminal Record Bureau 400 million Capita No n/a n/a 
			 Passport Application Support System—Front End 100 million Siemens Business Services No n/a n/a 
			 Passport Application Support System—Back End 300 million Security Printing and Systems Ltd. No n/a n/a 
			 Medway Secure Training Centre (STC) 48.5 million Rebound ECD Ltd. (Group 4 and Tarmac (now Carilion)) No n/a n/a 
			 Rainsbrook STC 43.6 million Rebound ECD Ltd. No n/a n/a 
			 Hassockfield STC 48.2 million Medomsley Training Services Ltd. (Premier Prison Services and Kvaerner Construction) No n/a n/a 
			 Airwave 2.5 billion BT No n/a n/a 
			 Quantum—Prison Service IT and telecommunication services 200 million EDS No n/a n/a 
			 HMYOI Ashfield 121 million Pucklechurch Custodial Services Ltd. No n/a n/a 
			 HMP Forest Bank 197 million Agecroft Prison Management Ltd. No n/a n/a 
			 HMP Rye Hill 154 million Onley Prison Services Ltd. No n/a n/a 
			 HMP Dovergate 240 million Moreton Prison Services Ltd. No n/a n/a 
			 Heat Energy Services at: 7 million Energy Services (UK) Ltd. No n/a n/a 
			 HMP Blundeston 7 million 
			 HMP Camp Hill 6 million 
			 HMP Chelmsford 10 million 
			 HMP Dartmoor 8 million 
			 HMYOI Deerbolt 6 million 
			 HMP Lewes 8 million 
			 HMP Parkhurst 2 million 
			 HMP Usk/Prescoed — 
			 Total 4,766.3 million

Private Finance Initiative

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the economic penalties imposed on private sector firms in each of the last five years for failures to deliver in relation to key performance indicators in projects involving the Private Finance Initiative; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: holding answer 20 July 2001
	Information on the detailed operation of individual contracts is not held centrally and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

Life Sentence Prisoners

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many life sentence prisoners are being held in prisons in England (a) whose last place of residence before sentence was in Wales or (b) who have requested a transfer to prison in Wales;
	(2)  are being held in prisons in Wales (a) whose last place of residence before sentence was in England and (b) who have requested a transfer to prison in England;
	(3)  how many life sentence prisoners are (a) held in prisons in England who were sentenced in Wales and (b) held in prisons in Wales who were sentenced in England;
	(4)  how many life sentence prisoners are held in prisons in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 July 2001
	Provisional information shows that on 31 August 2001 there were 30 life sentence prisoners in prisons in Wales, and 4,925 in prisons in England. Of the 30 in prisons in Wales, provisional information shows that 21 were committed at courts in England, and of those in prisons in England 193 were committed in courts in Wales.
	There are no data held centrally of the last place of residence for a prisoner before they were sent to prison in England and Wales. Offenders tend to be sentenced in a court nearest to their place of residence so the numbers give an approximation of whether the last place of residence was in England or Wales. Data on requests for transfers are not held centrally by the Prison Service.

Animal Experiments

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to modify the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 following developments in genetic modification;
	(2)  what guidance has been issued on the assessment of applications to produce animals by nuclear transfer cloning under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986;
	(3)  what plans the Government have to consult on the banning of genetic modification of non-human primates.

Angela Eagle: We have no current plans to modify the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 following developments in genetic modification. The Act provides that all use of the animals covered by its licensing controls must be justified, and that consequent animal suffering should be minimised. The terms of the Act are sufficiently broad and flexible to take account of scientific developments, without compromising the protection it affords to the animals concerned.
	No specific guidance has been issued on the assessment of applications under the 1986 Act to produce animals by nuclear transfer cloning, though general guidance to applicants applies as much to this area of scientific research as to any other. All such applications are however considered at a central point within the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. This ensures consistency of approach and identifies any cases that may need to be drawn to the attention of Ministers, who may seek further advice as required from the Animal Procedures Committee (APC), external assessors and others.
	We have no plans at present for consultation on the subject of genetic modification of non-human primates. No applications to conduct such work have so far been made under the 1986 Act—either to produce such animals in the United Kingdom or to use such animals imported from elsewhere. Any applications would be considered in the light of advice from the Inspectorate and the APC.

HMP Swansea

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of and timetable for the planned programme of capital works are at HMP Swansea; when it will be completed; and what plans exist to bring the remainder of the prison buildings back into prison service use.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 July 2001
	The only capital project currently under way at Her Majesty's Prison Swansea is the replacement of the central heating boilers. The expected cost of this project is £1,040,000 and it is expected to be completed in November 2001. This work has not involved loss of accommodation.
	Capital works in A Wing to remove asbestos, renew the heating system and install in-cell electricity at a total cost of £520,000 have been completed during September 2001 and the accommodation is being brought back into use in a phased programme to be completed by mid-October.
	Twenty-five work places in Workshop 3 have been temporarily closed for a six-week period for essential electrical maintenance.
	Most of B Wing remains out of use. There are no plans to return this accommodation to use. B Wing is a listed building and, as a result of the conditions required by CADW/Welsh Historic Monuments, the cost of the works needed to bring it up to current standards, including in-cell sanitation, mean it is not viable to restore it.
	A capital project to the value of £147,000 has been authorised in the health care centre to provide improved cells and a lift for disabled prisoners. The contract for this work has not yet been let and there is therefore no definite timetable for it. It will not involve taking prisoner accommodation out of use.
	It is also expected that various roofing repairs will take place at Swansea in the current financial year. The details have not yet been finalised. This is also not expected to involve the loss of accommodation.

Private Prisons

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions private prison operators have been (a) fined and (b) had payments withheld for breaking contract conditions; if he will provide details of each default notice issued, indicating the dates and amounts concerned; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 July 2001
	The contractors running privately managed prisons are financially penalised in the form of deductions from the fee payable to them by the Prison Service. There have been 36 occasions on which deductions have been made; these are listed in the tables for each of the five prisons which have incurred deductions, together with the amounts, reasons and dates. The five remaining privately managed prisons have not incurred deductions: Ashfield, Doncaster, Dovegate, Forest Bank and Rye Hill prisons. Buckley Hall prison transferred to Prison Service management on 26 June 2000; a fine of £526 was deducted in February 1997 for performance points while under private management.
	
		
			 Number of occasions Penalty: £ Reasons: PP = performance points Dates 
		
		
			  HMP Altcourse 
			 1 2,368.50 PP's for Qtr 2 September 1998 
			 2 195,000 PP's and Doubling Qtrs 2,3 and 4 November 1998 
			 3 4,144.97 PP's for Qtr 3 December 1998 
			 4 3,954.04 PP's for Qtr 4 March 1999 
			 5 3,511.23 PP's for Qtr 1 June 1999 
			 6 3,304.27 PP's for Qtr 2 September 1999 
			 7 440.40 PP's for Qtr 3 December 1999 
			 8 108,039.25 PP's for Qtr 4 February 2000 
			 9 4.82 PP's for Qtr 4 March 2000 
			 10 34,061.74 PP's for Qtr 1 May 2000 
			 11 9.77 PP's for Qtr 1 June 2000 
			 
			 HMP Blakehurst
			 1 25,000 Escape November 1998 
			 
			 HMP Lowdham Grange
			 1 702.00 PP's for Qtr 1 June 1998 
			 2 45,080.00 PP's for Qtr 2 August 1998 
			 3 31,231.00 PP's for Qtr 3 November 1998 
			 4 6,334.00 PP's for Qtr 4 February 1999 
			 5 11,865.00 PP's for Qtr 4 February 2000 
			 6 5,703.00 PP's for Qtr 1 May 2001 
			 
			  HMP Parc 
			 1 54,782 Performance points March 1998 
			 2 1,308.56 PP's for Qtr 1 July 1998 
			 3 298.09 Doubling June 1998 
			 4 750,000.00 PP's for Qtr 3 + doubling November 1998 
			 5 7,520.17 PP's for Qtr 1 doubling May 1999 
			 6 80,390.38 Doubling Qtr 2 August 1999 
			 7 2,296.94 Doubling Qtr 2 September 1999 
			 8 109,329.27 Doubling Qtr 3 November 1999 
			 9 601.77 Doubling Qtr 4 January 2000 
			 10 7,708.10 PP's for Qtr 1 April 2000 
			 11 5,401.68 PP's for Qtr 2 July 2000 
			 12 3,448.07 PP's for Qtr 3 October 2000 
			 13 59.22 PP's for Qtr 4 January 2001 
			 
			  HMP Wolds 
			 1 3,607.50 PP's Qtr 3 October 1999 
			 2 10,432.50 PP's Qtr 4 January 2000 
			 3 15,353.00 PP's Qtr 2 July 2000 
			 4 9,782.50 PP's Qtr 3 October 2000 
			 5 4,680.00 PP's Qtr 4 January 2000

Private Prisons

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the basis is on which financial penalties imposed on contractors of privately managed prisons are calculated; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 July 2001
	There are three ways in which contractors can incur financial penalties. The contracts for privately managed prisons require the contractor to operate to a range of standards measuring the performance of the prison. Failure to reach any of these standards results in the accumulation of penalty points; the number of points incurred depends on the seriousness of the failure. If these accumulated penalty points exceed a specified threshold, financial penalties are imposed by means of deductions from the fee payable to the contractor. There is an upper limit to the level of financial penalties that can be imposed. In some contracts an escape attracts a fixed fine.
	Additionally contractors can be penalised for unauthorised overcrowding, if the contractor holds more than a specified number of prisoners in a cell, and for unavailable places, the criteria for which include levels of security, control of prisoners and physical requirements such as lighting and heating.

Private Prisons

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former Home Office officials and Prison Service staff have taken paid employment with private companies involved in the operation, management and building of private prisons in each of the last 10 years; how many of those employees were formerly responsible for overseeing, managing and inspecting contracts for private prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 July 2001
	There is no contractual requirement for companies to record the information requested. Such information as has been recorded could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

National Address Database

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government are making to create a single national address database; what the expected timescale is for the implementation of this project; and what its purpose is.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 19 July 2001
	There are no current plans to establish such a database.

Police (Child Protection)

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what key performance indicators have been set by or for the police in respect of child protection.

John Denham: There are currently no specific best value performance indicators set for the police in respect of child protection. It is open to police authorities to set local performance indicators, in addition to those set centrally, if they wish.

Prison Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rates of sickness absence in the Prison Service were in each of the last four years.

Beverley Hughes: The annual sickness absence rates per member of staff since January 1999 are shown in the table. Sickness absence data prior to January 1999 are not available.
	
		
			  Working days lost Annualised rate of sickness absence 
		
		
			 1999 537,269 12.56 
			 2000 588,078 13.43 
			 2001(24) 407,611 13.93 
		
	
	(24) January to August

Prison Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the revenue expenditure was per prisoner of the Prison Service (a) nationally, (b) in the southern area and (c) for Isle of Wight prisons for each year since 1997, expressed (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of 1997 expenditure.

Beverley Hughes: The cost per prisoner of the Prison Service (a) nationally, (b) in the southern area and (c) for the Isle of Wight (IoW) for each year since 1997 expressed in (i) cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of 1997 expenditure is set out in the table.
	
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 National cost per prisoner (£ cash) 18,696 20,502 21,932 23,292 
			 Southern area (£ cash) 20,612 20,091 21,204 21,915 
			 Southern area as a percentage of 1997 expenditure 6.6 6.9 7.3 7.5 
			 IoW prisons (£ cash) 21,520 21,355 21,872 21,886 
			 IoW prisons as a percentage of 1997 expenditure 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.5 
		
	
	Southern area data have been derived by summing the 10 establishments in the Prison Service area Thames Valley and Hampshire. The prisons on the Isle of Wight are Albany, Camp Hill and Parkhurst. The national cost per prisoner does not include headquarters overheads and is therefore not comparable to the Prison Service cost per prisoner key performance indicator. Data on expenditure, population and other key performance indicators are published in the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts.

Prison Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the capital budget was of HM Prison Service (a) nationally, (b) in the southern area and (c) for Isle of Wight prisons, for each year since 1997 (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of 1997 budgets.

Beverley Hughes: The table shows actual expenditure on capital for the years 1997–98 to 2000–01 for the Prison Service, for the Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight area and for the three Isle of Wight prisons: Albany, Camp Hill and Parkhurst. For comparison purposes the figures have been converted to 1997–98 prices.
	The Isle of Wight prisons fall within the Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight area. This area has been in existence only since April 2000 when the area structure of the Prison Service was revised to bring it into line with other criminal justice agencies. The area figures for earlier years have been adjusted so that they cover the same group of prisons. The figures for the Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight area and for the three Isle of Wight prisons cover only capital spend incurred locally; they do not include any major capital projects which would have been funded centrally by Construction Unit in Prison Service headquarters.
	
		Gross capital expenditure (£000)
		
			  Prison Service Thames Valley, Hampshire and IOW Albany Camp Hill Parkhurst 
		
		
			 1997–98 spend 284,056 1,646 196 183 82 
			 1998–99 spend 218,894 1,688 63 105 186 
			 1998–99 at 1997–98 prices 212,942 1,642 61 102 181 
			 1998–99 at 1997–98 prices as % of 1997–98 75 100 31 56 221 
			 1999–2000 spend 165,525 2,029 193 165 169 
			 1999–2000 at 1997–98 prices 157,083 1,196 184 156 160 
			 1999–2000 at 1997–98 prices as % of 1997–98 55 117 94 85 196 
			 2000–01 147,652 642 96 103 38 
			 2000–01 at 1997–98 prices 137,711 599 90 96 35 
			 2000–01 at 1997–98 prices as % of 1997–98 48 36 46 53 43

Prison Service

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the management of the Prison Service facilities for juveniles and young adults.

Beverley Hughes: From April 2000, the Youth Justice Board took responsibility for commissioning and purchasing all secure accommodation including Prison Service accommodation for children and young persons sentenced to custody.
	The creation of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales sees for the first time a single organisation with oversight and responsibility for the care and well-being of 10 to 17-year-old offenders. The board's purpose is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system, to identify and promote good practice and to advise the Home Secretary how to deliver the statutory aim of preventing offending by children and young people. The board is also responsible for commissioning services for young offenders in secure facilities.
	In response to these changes the Prison Service has created a new distinct estate for 15 to 17-year-old boys, comprising both designated juvenile units in young offender institutions. For the first time, the vast majority of under-18s are held in dedicated under-18 establishments, or in dedicated under-18 living units within other establishments.
	As part of the Juvenile Estate three special units have been opened at Castington, Huntercombe and Hollesley Bay offering enhanced regimes for the more vulnerable boys who have been convicted of serious offences and have been given longer sentences under section 90 or 91 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (formerly section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933).
	Improvements are being made to the quality of accommodation, the level of care and to regime standards. The new regimes are underpinned by a Prison Service Order (PSO 4950), which defines the principles upon which governors must build and operate regimes.
	From 1 April 2001, a new Operational Manager (Assistant Director, Juveniles) has taken direct responsibility within the Prison Service for the operational management of four establishments holding juveniles (Ashfield, Huntercombe, Werrington and Wetherby) and for the regimes and performance of the juvenile side of young offender institutions holding both juveniles and young offenders.
	There is a manifesto commitment to build on the Government's youth justice reforms to improve the standard of custodial accommodation and offending programmes for 18 to 20-year-olds. I am currently considering with others what is needed for young adult offenders and how best to deliver it.

Prison Staff

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed on governor grades as a percentage of the total number of prison officers in each prison.

Beverley Hughes: The number of staff employed on governor grades as a percentage of the total number of prison officers in each prison is shown in the table.
	
		Senior operational managers (previously governor grades) as a percentage of prison officer grades as at 31 August 2001
		
			 Establishment Senior operational managers Officer grades Percentage 
		
		
			 Acklington 8 209 3.83 
			 Albany 7 143 4.90 
			 Ashwell 5 101 4.95 
			 Askham Grange 3 28 10.71 
			 Aylesbury 11 175 6.29 
			 Bedford 5 151 3.31 
			 Belmarsh 12 520 2.31 
			 Birmingham 10 305 3.28 
			 Blakenhurst 8 152 5.26 
			 Blantyre House 2 35 5.71 
			 Blundeston 5 158 3.16 
			 Brinsford 9 214 4.21 
			 Bristol 9 297 3.03 
			 Brixton 8 269 2.97 
			 Brockhill 4 89 4.49 
			 Buckley Hall 4 105 3.81 
			 Bullingdon 10 249 4.02 
			 Bullwood Hall 5 73 6.85 
			 Camp Hill 6 148 4.05 
			 Canterbury 4 119 3.36 
			 Cardiff 9 228 3.95 
			 Castington 7 209 3.35 
			 Channings Wood 8 148 5.41 
			 Chelmsford 7 202 3.47 
			 Coldingly 4 93 4.30 
			 Cookham Wood 3 53 5.66 
			 Dartmoor 10 232 4.31 
			 Deerbolt 6 143 4.20 
			 Dorchester 5 83 6.02 
			 Dover 5 113 4.42 
			 Downview 5 113 4.42 
			 Drake Hall 4 65 6.15 
			 Durham 13 419 3.10 
			 East Sutton Park 2 25 8.00 
			 Eastwood Park 4 111 3.60 
			 Elmley 8 271 2.95 
			 Erlestoke 5 99 5.05 
			 Everthorpe 5 125 4.00 
			 Exeter 7 179 3.91 
			 Featherstone 7 144 4.86 
			 Feltham 15 370 4.05 
			 Ford 4 59 6.78 
			 Foston Hall 5 76 6.58 
			 Frankland 13 483 2.69 
			 Full Sutton 15 480 3.13 
			 Garth 10 247 4.05 
			 Gartree 8 147 5.44 
			 Glen Parva 12 275 4.36 
			 Gloucester 5 121 4.13 
			 Grendon 8 173 4.62 
			 Guys Marsh 5 123 4.07 
			 Haslar 3 45 6.67 
			 Hatfield 4 40 10.00 
			 Haverigg 6 130 4.62 
			 Hewell Grange 4 30 13.33 
			 Highdown 10 280 3.57 
			 Highpoint 9 147 6.12 
			 Highpoint North 4 85 4.71 
			 Hindley 11 221 4.98 
			 Hollesley Bay 7 152 4.61 
			 Holloway 11 271 4.06 
			 Holme House 9 301 2.99 
			 Hull 9 244 3.69 
			 Huntercombe 5 153 3.27 
			 Kingston 4 74 5.41 
			 Kirkham 6 84 7.14 
			 Kirklevington 3 37 8.11 
			 Lancaster 4 89 4.49 
			 Lancaster Farms 8 198 4.04 
			 Latchmere House 3 38 7.89 
			 Leeds 10 416 2.40 
			 Leicester 6 144 4.17 
			 Lewes 6 179 3.35 
			 Leyhill 7 65 10.77 
			 Lincoln 5 225 2.22 
			 Lindholme 9 175 5.14 
			 Littlehey 6 161 3.73 
			 Liverpool 9 541 1.66 
			 Long Lartin 13 396 3.28 
			 Low Newton 6 121 4.96 
			 Maidstone 9 185 4.86 
			 Manchester 16 462 3.46 
			 Moorland 6 273 2.20 
			 Morton Hall 3 68 4.41 
			 New Hall 6 141 4.26 
			 North Sea Camp 4 35 11.43 
			 Northallerton 5 79 6.33 
			 Norwich 9 234 3.85 
			 Nottingham 9 177 5.08 
			 Onley 9 230 3.91 
			 Parkhurst 9 198 4.55 
			 Pentonville 13 368 3.53 
			 Portland 8 180 4.44 
			 Preston 8 258 3.10 
			 Ranby 6 216 2.78 
			 Reading 4 123 3.25 
			 Risley 9 269 3.35 
			 Rochester 7 159 4.40 
			 Send 5 71 7.04 
			 Shepton Mallet 4 64 6.25 
			 Shrewsbury 4 114 3.51 
			 Stafford 6 179 3.35 
			 Standford Hill 6 81 7.41 
			 Stocken 5 144 3.47 
			 Stoke Heath 9 225 4.00 
			 Styal 8 169 4.73 
			 Sudbury 6 62 9.68 
			 Swaleside 9 241 3.73 
			 Swansea 5 127 3.94 
			 Swinfen Hall 4 130 3.08 
			 The Mount 6 153 3.92 
			 The Verne 7 124 5.65 
			 Thorn Cross 6 116 5.17 
			 Usk/Prescoed 3 88 3.41 
			 Wakefield 16 362 4.42 
			 Wandsworth 9 404 2.23 
			 Wayland 6 140 4.29 
			 Wealstun 7 145 4.83 
			 Weare 5 118 4.24 
			 Wellingborough 5 154 3.25 
			 Werrington 4 77 5.19 
			 Wetherby 6 147 4.08 
			 Whatton 3 72 4.17 
			 Whitemoor 10 479 2.09 
			 Winchester 6 211 2.84 
			 Woodhill 10 431 2.32 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 11 340 3.24 
			 Wymott 11 202 5.45

Prison Staff

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of violence to prison officers have been recorded (a) nationally, (b) in the southern area, and (c) in Isle of Wight prisons for each year since 1997, expressed (i) in total and (ii) per 1,000 officers.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is set out in the tables.
	
		Adjudications on incidents of violence against prison officers in England and Wales since 1997, broken down by year and area(25) heard
		
			  England Wales Southern area Isle of Wight 
		
		
			 1997 2,184 33 505 24 
			 1998 2,345 54 573 32 
			 1999 2,295 36 552 28 
			 2000 2,346 33 601 25 
			 2001(26) 1,965 18 509 39 
		
	
	
		Adjudications on incidents of violence against prison officers in England and Wales since 1997, broken down by year and area(25) heard, per 1,000 officers(27)
		
			  England Wales Southern area Isle of Wight 
		
		
			 1997 121.7 88.2 151.3 50.2 
			 1998 128.8 148.4 170.6 77.5 
			 1999 124.1 98.4 161.4 69.7 
			 2000 126.0 89.4 175.2 65.6 
			 2001(26) — — — — 
		
	
	(25) Figures cannot be added to make area totals as prisoners appear in more than one category
	(26) From 1 January to 30 September
	(27) Figures do not include private prisons, and are for 31 March of each year

Prison Governors

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional discretion in the conduct of their duties has been devolved to prison governors over the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We keep the balance between a prison governor's local autonomy and direction from headquarters under constant review. In the last four years, prison governors have been given additional discretion in the conduct of their duties in a number of areas including:
	in August 2000, contractual delegation under full competition increased to £25,000 for spot/annual contracts and to £75,000 where the strategy is for a three year period contract (lower levels of authority apply for single tender actions and on other sensitive procurements);
	central training requirements and giving governors discretion to decide which of their members of staff should attend particular courses;
	in February 2001, governors were given responsibility for approving applications for release on temporary licence for life sentence prisoners preparing for release in open and resettlement prisons. This is subject to an initial application being approved by Lifer Unit at Prison Service Headquarters.
	We expect governors to work autonomously to improve performance and maintain decent conditions for prisoners within the guidelines set down by the Prison Service Management Board.

Prison Reprofiling

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons which have been reprofiled in the last four years; and what change there was in the number of jobs recommended in each reprofiling exercise.

Beverley Hughes: The information sought is not available centrally and could be acquired only at disproportionate cost.

Police (Absence)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days off sick were taken by police officers in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The number of days taken off sick by police officers are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Years Days lost 
		
		
			 1996–97 1,612,038 
			 1997–98 1,597,000 
			 1998–99 1,468,140 
			 1999–2000 1,432,963 
			 2000–01 1,516,147 
		
	
	Source:
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
	We are currently considering, with stakeholders, how we can improve the fitness, the readiness and the availability of the police service as part of the police reform process.

SO19 Specialist Firearms Unit

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the manpower available to the Metropolitan Police SO19 specialist firearms unit.

John Denham: The allocation of resources within the Metropolitan Police Service is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. As at 31 August, SO19's actual strength was 335.

Policing (Civilians)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to allow civilians to carry out policing and detection tasks.

John Denham: Two key objectives of the police reform programme are to ensure modern working practices and the highest standards of detective capability. Civilians already carry out many tasks in support of policing and there is potential for them to do more. Issues about how the reform process might be used to develop the part civilians play within policing remain under discussion with representatives of the service.

Drug Dealers

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to create a national register of drug dealers; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: We gave a manifesto commitment to create a register of drug dealers. We are currently considering the options for creating such a register, and consulting with the enforcement agencies on the practicalities.

Essex Police

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving constables there were in the Essex police force (a) in 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

John Denham: Information on police numbers is collected twice a year on 31 March and 30 September. The Essex police had 2,269 constables on 31 March 1997 and 2,234 constables on 31 March 2001.
	The Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) is providing Essex police with 197 CFF posts over the three-year period 2000–01 to 2002–03. Essex police plan to recruit 132 CFF posts this year. All these will be constables.
	Essex police employed 1,199 civilian staff in March 1997 and 1,447 in March 2001.

Case Reviews

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines have been issued to police forces on the criteria used in determining cases to be reviewed because of new evidence becoming available, with particular reference to DNA proofing techniques; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 20 July 2001
	There are no general guidelines issued to police forces on the criteria for determining which cases should be reviewed. Forces make decisions based on the circumstances of individual cases and the nature of the new evidence which has become available.
	The Forensic Science Service advises forces when new techniques emerge which may be relevant to unsolved cases. The Association of Chief Police Officers provides guidance to forces on reviewing unsolved murders where there is an issue of new evidence.

Women Prisoners

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were sent to prison by courts in England and Wales during each of the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: The available information, taken from the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database, is given in the table.
	
		Number of women sentenced to immediate custody, -- England and Wales 1997–99
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 1997 5,473 
			 1998 6,567 
			 1999 7,504 
		
	
	Note:
	Immediate custody comprises unsuspended imprisonment, detention in a young offender institution, secure training orders and detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

Bilking

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many petrol station bilking incidents in each of the last five years in which police were involved occurred in (a) England and (b) Luton;
	(2)  how many petrol station bilking incidents where police were involved led to prosecutions in (a) England and (b) Luton; and in each of the last five years in what percentage of such incidents police attended;
	(3)  if he will estimate the cost of police involvement in bilking at petrol stations in each of the past five years in (a) England and (b) Wales.

John Denham: The statistics collected centrally do not include the circumstances of the offence so that offences of making off without payment (bilking) from petrol stations cannot be distinguished from similar offences at other premises.
	The number of such incidents, the percentage of such incidents being attended by the police and the estimated cost to the police are therefore not centrally available.
	The table provides information from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database and shows the total number of prosecutions for making off without payment (bilking) in England, Wales and in the Luton Petty Sessional Area.
	
		Persons proceeded against for making off without payment (bilking)(28) in England, Wales and Luton Petty Sessional Division 1995–1999
		
			 Area Proceedings type 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 England Apprehension/Summons by the police 1,491 1,425 1,493 1,621 1,832 
			  Summons other than by police 17 18 13 8 6 
			  Total 1,508 1,443 1,506 1,629 1,838 
			 Wales Apprehension/Summons by the police 117 88 110 140 149 
			  Summons other than by police — 1 1 — — 
			  Total 117 89 111 140 149 
			 Luton Petty Sessional Area Apprehension/Summons by the police 3 4 4 3 8 
			  Summons other than by police — — — — — 
			  Total 3 4 4 3 8 
		
	
	(28) Theft Act 1978, Section 3
	Source:
	Home Office Crime and Criminal Justice Unit

Wide Loads (Police Escorts)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was to the Metropolitan police of escorting wide loads in each year since 1997.

John Denham: Information on the distances travelled by the police escorting wide loads and on the time spent by officers in escort duties is not collected centrally or by the Metropolitan police. It is not possible, therefore, to calculate the costs of this to the Metropolitan police. The available information relates only to the number of wide loads escorted. The figures are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 1,267 
			 1999 1,229 
			 2000 924 
			 2001 (to 30 September) 469 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are not available prior to 1998

Feltham B Young Offenders Institution

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on conditions at Feltham B Young Offenders Institution.

Beverley Hughes: In a report published on 26 July, the then Chief Inspector of Prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham, rightly criticised the poor regime at Feltham B and compared it to that for under 18-year-old prisoners at Feltham A, which had benefited from major investment to meet Youth Justice Board standards.
	Improvements to the regime on Feltham B are now a priority. Purposeful activity is currently over 23 hours per week. Two additional physical education instructors and one horticultural craftsman have been appointed, with further additional posts approved. The completion of a new education facility for under-18s means that the original facility is now exclusively available to Feltham B prisoners, providing up to 70 places a day. £500,000 is being invested from the Custody to Work programme to help the employability of young people on release, and £575,000 is being spent to convert existing buildings into a new gymnasium.
	Four bedded units have been reduced to two-person occupancy, and doubling in cells intended for one has ended. In-cell electricity has been installed in four units with a fifth under way.
	I am taking a close personal interest in developments at Feltham and I am determined to see that progress is maintained.

Feltham B Young Offenders Institution

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the Chief Inspector of Prisons with regard to the management of Feltham B Young Offenders Institution; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend met the former Chief Inspector of Prisons on 11 July although they did not specifically discuss Feltham B. I visited Feltham B with Sir David Ramsbotham on 16 July and subsequently discussed what I had seen there with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. He has given his full support to my determination, and that of the Director General, to implement fundamental improvements at Feltham.

Feltham B Young Offenders Institution

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many average hours of purposeful activity there were at Feltham B Young Offenders' Institute in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Figures for purposeful activity were not collected separately for Feltham A and Feltham B in previous years. The average figures for purposeful activity across the whole of Feltham young offender institution were 15.2 hours a week in 1999–2000 and 14.4 hours a week in 2000–01.
	Improving purposeful activity in Feltham B is a priority for the Prison Service. Separate figures are now kept, and purposeful activity in Feltham B has increased from 11.7 hours in April this year to over 23 hours a week.
	I am determined this improvement should be maintained.

Home Detention Curfew

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 43W, on the home detention curfew scheme, if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the third rape committed by a prisoner while on home detention curfew.

Beverley Hughes: The person referred to in the right hon. Member's question has appeared before the courts and was acquitted.

Stop and Search

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of police paperwork of the requirement to record all stops; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when the requirement on the police to record the ethnicity of all suspects stopped by the police will be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Following extensive consultation with the police, communities and other key stakeholders, we have agreed in principle to accept recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report, which was that all police "stops" and "searches" should be recorded and a record given to the person stopped. We have asked the stop and search sub-group of the Lawrence Steering Group to draw up detailed implementation plans for this recommendation and to finalise the definition of a stop for recording purposes. We have particularly asked them to have regard to minimising the burden on police officers.

Chief Inspector of Prisons

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Beverley Hughes: The role of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, which is fixed by statute, is to:
	inspect or arrange the inspection of prisons in England and Wales and report to the Home Secretary;
	in particular report to the Home Secretary on the treatment of prisoners and conditions in prisons;
	report to the Home Secretary on matters connected with the prisons in England and Wales and prisoners in them as the Home Secretary directs; and
	submit an annual report to the Home Secretary in a form which the Home Secretary determines to be laid before Parliament.
	Terms of reference have been completed as a public record of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' (and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Probation's) statutory remit, responsibilities and entitlements. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library.

Ouseley Report

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the findings of Sir Herman Ouseley's report on the impact of segregated schools on the riots in Bradford.

Angela Eagle: Lord Ouseley's report was commissioned and prepared for Bradford Vision, a partnership involving local government, police and other agencies.
	The ministerial group on Public Order and Community Cohesion delivered its first report to the Home Secretary on 8 October. The report covers progress on the measures put in hand immediately following my statement to the House on 10 July 2001, Official Report, column 663, and makes proposals for further measures to address the issues raised by the serious public order disturbances earlier this summer.
	The ministerial group expects to complete its work in December when it will submit a further report. That report will, among other things, take account of the independent Review Team, which I also established following the disorders in Bradford in July. Once the group has presented its final report and we have concluded our review I shall be making a statement.

Prisoners (Meditation)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the benefits of meditation practices to prisoners.

Beverley Hughes: Meditation is one of a limited number of complementary therapies which Prison Service establishments were instructed in 1998 could be made available to individual prisoners on the recommendation of the prison doctor, strictly for health reasons. When drawing up the relevant instruction the Prison Service took advice from the Department of Health. The Prison Service has made no formal assessment of the benefits to prisoners of meditation practices since that instruction was issued.

Congestion Charging

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use by police forces for unconnected purposes of information collected as part of congestion charging arrangements.

John Denham: The disclosure of information by police forces is subject to compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The general position is that the police may use personal information in their possession as long as this is necessary for pursuing a legitimate policing purpose.
	An individual's details would not normally be disclosed for another purpose unless the consent of the individual is first obtained, or it was required for compliance with a legal obligation, or there is an overriding public interest in disclosure.

Firearms

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving the use of firearms have been recorded for each of the last five years where the offender was (a) under 10, (b) 10, (c) 11, (d) 12, (e) 13, (f) 14, (g) 15, (h) 16 and (i) 17 years.

John Denham: This information is not collected centrally.

Firearms

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to restrict the (a) sale, (b) possession and (c) use of air guns and rifles.

John Denham: There are already laws which govern the circumstances in which air weapons can be sold, possessed or used. We believe that much can be done to tackle air weapon misuse through the enforcement of these laws and through public education on the safe and responsible handling of these firearms. We have asked the Firearms Consultative Committee to consider how best to take this forward and to consider whether there are any other measures which might usefully be taken to guard against misuse.

GM Animals

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason no data is collected in respect of (a) deaths occurring prior to birth during the production of genetically modified animals and (b) the stage of foetal development at which failures occur.

Angela Eagle: The production of genetically modified animals (as well as their use in experiments or other scientific procedures) is controlled under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The production and use of such animals allows new areas of medical and other scientific research to be explored; provides the potential for investigating a wide variety of conditions including cancer, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis; and allows the quality of the science in many areas of research and testing to be improved.
	Table 3 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2000 (Cm 5244) provides comprehensive data on scientific procedures by species of animal, primary purpose (including breeding) and genetic status. Paragraph 12 of the Introductory Notes to the statistics explains that details of procedures on animals in foetal, larval or embryonic form are collected but not enumerated because it may be impracticable in some cases to count such procedures.
	Foetal deaths in the species that are commonly genetically modified are difficult or impossible to enumerate as a result of resorption of the foetal material and there may be no outward sign that this has happened. It may never have been established that the animal was pregnant, it will not have been known how many embryos were conceived, nor how many reached halfway through gestation. It would not therefore be feasible to collect the information in question. Embryonic forms do not become protected animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 until they are beyond halfway through gestation.

Dr. Ali Dizaei

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on developments in the investigation of Dr. Ali Dizaei, including its costs.

John Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the investigation is still active and on-going.

Illegal Immigrants

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants employed in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: No such estimate has been made in the last five years or previously of the numbers of those involved in illegal employment. The Home Office will shortly be commissioning research to obtain information about the size and characteristics of the illegal population.
	The Government are, however, determined to tackle the criminal gangs who are trading in human misery. Last year a multi-agency task force, chaired by the National Crime Squad, was created and is leading the United Kingdom's response to this problem.

Digital Television (Prisons)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what expenditure has been (a) incurred to date and (b) budgeted for in (i) monthly and (ii) quarterly subscriptions for digital television in prisoners' cells;
	(2)  what expenditure has been (a) incurred to date and (b) is projected during the next year on installation of in-cell digital TV services for convicted prisoners;
	(3)  how many convicted prisoners have access to (a) ITV digital and (b) other digital TV services in their own cells.

Beverley Hughes: The policy of the Prison Service is that prisoners should have access only to the five analogue terrestrial television channels in their cells.

Asylum Seekers

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants have been dispersed to the borough of Trafford in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: Asylum seekers were not dispersed centrally before April 2000.
	Information recorded by National Asylum Support Service (NASS) shows that as at the end of July 2001, 50 1 asylum seekers, including dependants, were being supported in NASS accommodation in Trafford after dispersal.
	1 Figure rounded to the nearest 10.

Enforcements (Immigrants)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many enforcements were made on immigrants in each month from May; what the nationalities of those removed was; how many of those removed were asylum seekers; to which countries they were sent; on which airlines they were removed; and how many were removed by charter flights.

Angela Eagle: Enforcement action relates to the removal of people who have entered the United Kingdom, either legally or illegally. It does not include cases dealt with "on-entry".
	Information for the period requested is not available. The most recent information was published in the "Control of Immigration Bulletin, United Kingdom 2000" on 24 August 2001. This shows that 8,370 persons had been removed of whom 3,540 had sought asylum at some stage. This figure excludes dependants, but includes persons leaving under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme.
	More recent information shows that during the second quarter of 2001, 1,500 persons who had sought asylum at some stage either left the United Kingdom or were removed after enforcement action had been initiated. This figure includes dependants and persons leaving under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme. Corresponding information on non-asylum removals is not, at present, available for the period.
	I regret that information on the nationality, destination and flight details is not available.

Asylum Voucher System

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his review of the operation of the asylum voucher system; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Home Secretary intends to report on the reviews of the voucher and dispersal schemes when he announces his proposals about immigration and asylum policy later this month.

Immigrant Detainees

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained under immigration rules at the end of (a) July, (b) August and (c) September; what the nationalities of those detained is; what the location of those detained is; and how many have been detained more than (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four and (iv) five months.

Angela Eagle: The latest available information on the number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 June 2001; the location, nationality and length of detention of persons detained as at this date is given in the tables. Of the total, 245 persons are being detained under dual Immigration and other powers.
	
		
			  Location Immigration Act detainees as at 30 June 2001(29) 
		
		
			 Armley 10 
			 Belmarsh 50 
			 Brixton 15 
			 Campsfield House 185 
			 Cardiff 45 
			 Dover Harbour 5 
			 Harmondsworth 80 
			 Haslar 155 
			 High Down 45 
			 Holme House 55 
			 Lindholme 110 
			 Liverpool 85 
			 Longport 10 
			 Manchester Airport 15 
			 Rochester 180 
			 The Mount 10 
			 The Verne 10 
			 Tinsley House 125 
			 Wandsworth 55 
			 Winchester 45 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 25 
			 Other prison establishments(30) 180 
			 Oakington Reception Centre 265 
			  
			 Total 1,760 
		
	
	(29) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and exclude persons detained in police cells. Figures include 245 persons who are recorded as being detained under dual immigration and other powers.
	(30) Other prison establishments with five or fewer detainees.
	
		
			  Nationality Immigration Act detainees as at 30 June 2001(31) 
		
		
			 Afghanistan 25 
			 Albania 80 
			 Algeria 75 
			 Angola 10 
			 Bangladesh 50 
			 Cameroon 20 
			 China, People's Republic of 85 
			 Colombia 15 
			 Czech Republic 115 
			 Gambia 10 
			 Ghana 40 
			 India 115 
			 Iran 15 
			 Iraq 30 
			 Ivory Coast 15 
			 Jamaica 110 
			 Kenya 25 
			 Latvia 10 
			 Lithuania 30 
			 Moldova 10 
			 Morocco 15 
			 Nigeria 85 
			 Pakistan 140 
			 Poland 35 
			 Romania 40 
			 Russia 15 
			 South Africa 15 
			 Sri Lanka 65 
			 Turkey 35 
			 Uganda 20 
			 Ukraine 45 
			 Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of 125 
			 Zimbabwe 110 
			 Other nationalities(32) 140 
			  
			 Total 1,760 
		
	
	(31) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and exclude persons detained in police cells. Figures include 245 persons who are recorded as being detained under dual immigration and other powers.
	(32) Other nationalities with five or fewer detainees.
	
		
			  Length of detention(33) Immigration Act detainees as at 30 June 2001(34) 
		
		
			 More than 2 months 660 
			 of which, more than 3 months 475 
			 of which, more than 4 months 380 
			 of which, more than 5 months 300 
		
	
	(33) Relates to current period of detention; where persons have been transferred to and subsequently from the Oakington Reception Centre, excludes time in detention prior to transfer from Oakington.
	(34) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and exclude persons detained in police cells and the Oakington Reception Centre. Figures include 130 persons who are recorded as being detained under dual immigration and other powers.

Abu Hamza and Omar Bakri Mohammed

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review 
	(1)  the immigration status of Abu Hamza; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  the indefinite leave to remain status of Omar Bakri Mohammed granted in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The police are well aware of the statements made by these individuals in recent weeks and are monitoring the situation and are considering whether any offences have been committed.

Race Hate Legislation

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce proposals to amend race hate laws to include an offence of incitement of race hatred outside the UK through statements made inside the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Government intend to bring forward proposals to amend the law on incitement to racial hatred, as my hon. Friend suggests, to remove the existing limitation in the law which means that only hatred directed at a group of persons in Great Britain is covered by the offences.
	The Government have also announced their intention to propose this change as part of a package of measures to strengthen the incitement to racial hatred provisions contained in Part III of the Public Order Act 1986 and in particular to extend those provisions to the incitement to religious hatred.

National Asylum Support Service

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the efficiency and accountability of the National Asylum Support Service.

Angela Eagle: The efficiency of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) in delivering its operations is kept under review by its senior management who report to Ministers as necessary. The reviews of the voucher and dispersal schemes have also involved looking at the way NASS operates and whether this can be improved.
	As a part of the Home Office, NASS is accountable to Ministers for what it does. It also is open to scrutiny by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee.

Police Force Boundaries

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of the introduction of a police force based on local authority district boundaries.

John Denham: We have no present plans for the alteration of police areas.
	Forces based on local authority districts would be unable economically to provide the full range of police services and the capacity to respond to major incidents.

Unauthorised Encampments

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the law on unauthorised encampments.

John Denham: The police already have powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to direct travellers or other trespassers to leave land when the appropriate statutory requirements are met. These are discretionary powers and it is the operational responsibility of the chief officer of the force concerned to decide when and how to enforce these powers. The effectiveness of this legislation is kept under regular review.

Unauthorised Encampments

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review guidance to police forces about the enforcement of public order legislation on travellers' camps.

John Denham: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) provides operational guidance to police forces on powers to direct travellers or other trespassers to leave land when the appropriate statutory requirements are met. This guidance is kept under regular review.
	Research has been conducted to review the effectiveness of the current Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR)/Home Office Good Practice Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping. I understand that the DTLR will be publishing a summary of the findings shortly, in the week commencing 29 October.

Long Lartin Prison

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for further development at Long Lartin prison; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: A major refurbishment of older prisoner accommodation at the prison will begin early next year. This programme of work is due for completion in late 2003. Long Lartin has recently been granted Department of Health funding to allow a small unit to be constructed within the prison to cater for the mental health needs of prisoners. Funding has also been provided to allow Long Lartin to designate a small number of cells in the segregation unit for monitoring and support of prisoners who have refused to co-operate with the Close Supervision Centre system for disruptive prisoners.

Youth Justice Board Review 2000–01

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of publication and circulation of the Youth Justice Board Review 2000–01; and to whom the document was circulated.

Beverley Hughes: The publication costs of the Youth Justice Board's Annual Review 2000–01 were £26,785 with circulation costs of £4,856.28. Copies were distributed to youth offending teams; senior officers in social services, police, probation, education and health; magistrates and the courts; the juvenile secure estate, Members of Parliament and Ministers.

Miscarriages of Justice (Compensation)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent changes have been made to the method of calculation of compensation to be awarded to victims of miscarriages of justice; if he will place a document setting out the Independent Assessor's approach in the Library; what measures he will take to ensure that victims may benefit proportionately from these changes; and how many people are awaiting settlement of compensation claims.

Keith Bradley: In calculating the amount of compensation to be awarded to victims of miscarriages of justice, the independent assessor applies principles analogous to those governing the assessment of damages for civil wrongs. He must, therefore, give effect to any developments which may occur in the law and have regard to such judicial authority as there may be at the time of making an assessment. To that extent, the background against which he has to assess compensation is changing all the time. There has recently been a change of assessor (Lord Daniel Brennan succeeded Sir David Calcutt with effect from 27 July) but that does not mean that there has been a change in how compensation is calculated because, whoever is the assessor, the same principles will be applied.
	The basis on which compensation is assessed is made clear in statute (section 133(4A) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988); in the Home office "Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice—Note for Successful Applicants" (copies of which have already been placed in the Library); and in individual Assessments.
	As at 20 September 2001 there were 112 cases where a decision had been made to pay compensation but for a variety of reasons the claim had yet to be settled. These range from the many cases where successful applicants have yet to submit the details of their claims to the few where a final assessment has been made but not yet accepted.

Strip Searches (Holloway)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what method the number of strip searches is recorded at HMP Holloway; how many searches carried out in (a) the last year and (b) each of the previous five years; and what items of (i) contraband and (ii) other confiscated items have been recorded in each year.

Beverley Hughes: The available information on the number of searches is set out in the table. Prisoners are required to undergo strip searches in a number of circumstances, including whenever they pass through reception on their way into or out of prison establishments; prior to providing a sample of urine for a mandatory drugs test (MDT); and in connection with routine and targeted strip searches. A percentage of prisoners are strip searched before and after visits, and prisoners may also be strip searched at any time when it is believed that they may be concealing unauthorised articles. Prisoners in the Health Care Centre and Detox Units at Holloway prison may also be strip searched if staff believe they may be concealing articles which could be used to harm themselves or others.
	In my written answer on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 99W, to my hon. Friend, I referred to the consideration being given to upgrading the prisoner database to provide statistical recording and monitoring of strip searches. That work is still continuing. In the meantime, the position at Holloway is that a register is maintained of strip searches associated with visits. A separate register is maintained of prisoners undergoing MDT. Cell searches are recorded on the appropriate form. However, while movement through reception will be recorded against the individual prisoner's record on the Local Inmate Database System, there is no requirement to record strip searches conducted in reception.
	It is not possible to identify the unauthorised articles for every find, but the principal finds at Holloway have been of drugs and tablets, tobacco, jewellery, telephone cards, cash, confectionery and unauthorised correspondence. In 1998 and 2000, there were also instances of weapons being discovered in searches prior to MDT.
	
		Number of strip searches undertaken
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(35) 
		
		
			 Visits 315 425 201 121 26 
			 Cell searches (36)— (36)— (36)— (37)1,034 505 
			 Segregation unit (36)— (37)1,326 (37)1,200 (37)1,334 (37)823 
			 MDT (36)— 805 740 646 458 
			 Reception (37)18,000 (37)18,000 (37)18,000 (37)18,000 (37)18,000 
		
	
	(35) to 29 September
	(36) not available
	(37) approximately

South Africa

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people arrived from South Africa and took advantage of their eligibility to live in the United Kingdom in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000.

Angela Eagle: Information on the total number of South Africans given leave to enter the United Kingdom is given in the table. The following categories are those which identify passengers who are eligible to remain in the United Kingdom for more than six months:
	United Kingdom ancestry and their dependants
	Work permit holders and their dependants
	Family reasons
	Accepted for settlement on arrival
	Other categories eligible for admission for more than six months
	Refugees, exceptional leave cases and their dependants
	
		Nationals of South Africa given leave to enter the United Kingdom by selected purpose of journey, 1999 and 2000
		
			  1999 2000 
		
		
			 Total admissions 349,000 415,000 
			 Of which:   
			 UK ancestry(38) 2,540 2,470 
			 Work permit holders and their dependants 4,360 5,360 
			 Family reasons 1,820 1,540 
			 Accepted for settlement on arrival(39) 200 110 
			 Other categories eligible for admission for more than six months(40) 15,700 11,700 
			 Refugees, exceptional leave cases and their dependants(41) 10 (42)— 
			 Categories given short-term admission up to six months and passengers returning after a temporary absence abroad 325,000 394,000 
		
	
	(38) South African citizens with a United Kingdom born grandparent taking or seeking employment
	(39) Excludes asylum related cases given indefinite leave to enter
	(40) Excludes exceptional leave cases given leave to enter
	(41) Excluding such persons given temporary admission
	(42) Negligible ie 5 or fewer
	Note:
	Data rounded to three significant digits; because of this the sum of the constituent items may not agree with the total shown.

Exclusion Orders

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a list of the individuals who are excluded from entering Britain because exclusion orders have been served on them, specifying in each case the date on which the order was served and the reason for which the order was served.

Angela Eagle: It is Home Office policy not to reveal any individual's immigration status to a third party. I am unable, therefore, to provide a list of named individuals who are currently excluded from the United Kingdom.
	The Home Secretary's personal power to exclude is used carefully to ensure the protection of public order, national security, and for purposes of foreign relations. In the year 2000 26 people were excluded. Since 1990 a total of 297 people have been excluded.

Prison Education Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the rationale for the transfer of responsibility for purchasing and commissioning prison education services from governors;
	(2)  who in the prison service will be responsible for commissioning and purchasing prison education services when that responsibility transfers from governors.

Beverley Hughes: Contracts for prison education services are due to run until 2004. Under these arrangements, prison governors retain the responsibility for commissioning and purchasing services. The prisoner Learning and Skills Unit based at the Department for Education and Skills will be reviewing mechanisms for funding, procurement and delivery of education and training. The outcomes of this review will determine where responsibility will lie after 2004.

Prison Education Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) NVQs and (b) other nationally recognised qualifications have been achieved by prisoners in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Last year, over 60,000 certificates were awarded to prisoners for units of attainment leading to nationally recognised qualifications, including nearly 12,500 full qualifications at basic skills level 2. No reliable information is available on the achievement of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) specifically, or for qualifications achieved in the period before 2000. The Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit located in the Department for Education and Skills will be implementing new procedures next year to capture this kind of information.

Offending Behaviour Courses

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offending behaviour courses have been completed by prisoners (a) nationally, (b) in the southern area and (c) in Isle of Wight prisons, for each year since 1997, expressed (i) in total and (ii) per 1,000 prisoners.

Beverley Hughes: The total number of accredited offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) completed by prisoners (a) nationally, (b) in the south of England and (c) in Isle of Wight (IoW) prisons since 1997–1998, and per 1,000 prisoners are set out in the tables.
	
		Total accredited offending behaviour programmes (OBPs)
		
			  Total OBPs Thames Valley and Hampshire IoW prisons 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,240 260 201 
			 1998–99 3,129 333 184 
			 1999–2000 4,664 503 243 
			 2000–01 5,986 483 266 
		
	
	
		Total accredited offending behaviour programmes per 1,000 prisoners
		
			  Total OBPs Thames Valley and Hampshire IoW prisons 
		
		
			 1997–98 35.9 68.4 156.5 
			 1998–99 48.0 81.5 140.3 
			 1999–2000 71.6 121.3 180.7 
			 2000–01 92.5 118.7 194.8 
		
	
	South of England data have been derived by summing the ten establishments in the Prison Service area Thames Valley and Hampshire. The prisons on the Isle of Wight are HMP Albany, HMP Camp Hill and HMP Parkhurst.
	Data on accredited offending behaviour programmes and other key performance indicators are published in the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts 2000–2001 (HC29).
	Data are subject to rounding.

Category C Prisoners

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category C prisoners are held in category B establishments (a) nationally, (b) in the southern area and (c) in Isle of Wight prisons (i) in total and (ii) per 1,000 prisoners.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is contained in the table and was the position as at 9 October 2001.
	
		
			  England and Wales Within the Southern Area On the Isle of Wight(43) 
		
		
			 Part 1
			 Number of category C Prisoners held in category B prisons(44) 14,053 1,117 91 
			 Part 2
			 Number of category C prisoners held in category B prisons per 1,000 prisoners held in category B prisons 385 335 107 
		
	
	(43) For the purposes of this answer, the southern area is taken to be the Prison Service management area of Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
	(44) Category B prisons include adult male local and adult male category B training prisons

Mentally Ill Prisoners

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been conducted to identify the incidence of drug-induced psychosis among mentally ill prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We do not know of any research that has been conducted specifically to identify the incidence of drug-induced psychosis among mentally ill prisoners in England and Wales. Information about rates of psychosis in the prison population as a whole is contained in the report, "Psychiatric Morbidity Among Prisoners", published by the Office For National Statistics in 1998.

Non-life-Sentenced prisoners

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to plan and monitor the prison career of non-life-sentenced prisoners.

Beverley Hughes: In 1992, the Prison Service introduced the current sentence planning arrangements for non-life-sentenced prisoners. Sentence plans are now prepared for all adult prisoners serving sentences of 12 months or more (with at least six months to serve post sentence) and all young offenders with at least one month to serve post sentence. Life sentenced prisoners have their own sentence planning system. Juveniles (under 18s) have equivalent training plans.
	The Prison Service sentence planning system is designed to co-ordinate the efforts of different individuals and agencies involved with the prisoner. It is used to help prepare prisoners for safe release and to make best use of the prisoner's time. It does this by encouraging them to address the reasons for their offending behaviour and by giving planned experience of work, training and education. Targets are set and progress reviewed at specified intervals. All prisoners involved in sentence planning are subject to a period of supervision under licence by the probation service after release.
	Short-sentence prisoners, not covered by sentence planning, are still subject to various assessments. All prisoners have a health care assessment on reception and then, during induction, staff will begin to assess prisoners for drug treatment needs, education and resettlement needs.
	A new system to assess prisoner risk and need, target interventions and plan for prisoners' release is currently being piloted.

Terrorist Organisations

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (a) list those organisations which he regards as terrorist and (b) make a statement on the strategies he proposes to deploy to counter their threat.

David Blunkett: Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000, which came into force on 19 February 2001, lists those organisations which are proscribed through being concerned in terrorism. The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2001, which came into force on 29 March, added 21 organisations to the 14 already in Schedule 2. Copies of the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2001 are available in the Library.
	The Terrorism Act 2000 provides a new legal framework, responding to the continuing need for specific powers to combat the current and future threat from all kinds of terrorism. I announced on 3 October further details of the package of anti-terrorism measures which are under consideration as part of the Government's legislative response to terrorism. The bills that the Government will put before Parliament will focus on practical measures which will deter and disrupt the activities of terrorists in the United Kingdom, and build on our current tough framework of anti-terrorism legislation.

Unaccompanied Luggage

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported cases of (a) unidentified, and (b) other unaccompanied luggage arriving at British airports there have been since 11 September; which airports have received such luggage; which airlines have transported the luggage; what action the Minister plans to take against airlines which allow such practice to continue; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department does not require any records to be kept of unidentified or unaccompanied baggage arriving in the UK. Any such baggage which is leaving the UK for a flight to any other destination will be screened to a higher standard before being loaded for flight under existing security requirements.

City Status

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he expects the announcement will be made on which town has been granted city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne;
	(2)  if applications by those towns which applied unsuccessfully for city status to commemorate the Third Millennium will be considered as applications for city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne;
	(3)  what plans he has to publish criteria for towns wishing to apply for city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  when he will invite applications for city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Telford (David Wright) on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 787W.

City Status

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will sit on the committee which will consider applications by towns which wish to be granted city status to commemorate the 50 Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the Throne.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	Decisions on the grant of city status are made by the Queen, under the royal prerogative, on the advice of Ministers. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor will be responsible for advising the Queen on the towns in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to be granted city status to mark Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee after consulting other Ministers as he judges appropriate. These will include the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
	Ministers will be advised by their officials in the normal way. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department and I will not be involved in the consideration process because of our constituencies' potential interests in the outcome.

DEFENCE

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of the titles and dates of films held by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down which recorded the establishment's trials with the chemical agent BZ in the 1960s.

Lewis Moonie: The following is a list of items from the archive at Porton Down which have been identified as relating to trials involving the incapacitating agent referred to as BZ. Some of these items are films and others are sound tracks only. The records are not dated and there may be other material in the archive concerning BZ which has not been identified or catalogued as BZ. These items listed are currently held by the Wiltshire police as part of their investigation into the Porton Down Volunteer programme.
	
		
			 Identified as: Film/sound 
		
		
			 RF98 Sound 
			 RE17B Film 
			 'BZ Trial' Sound 
			 Reel 4 Film 
			 Reel 5 Film 
			 Reel 6 Film 
			 Reel 7 Film 
			 Reel 8 Film 
			 Reel 9 Film 
			 Reel 11 Film 
			 Reel 12 Film 
			 Box Marked'BZ Trial' (45)Sound 
			 RE17C Sound 
			 RE17 Film 
			 RF98 Film 
			 Box Marked 'Jim Sound' (46)Sound 
		
	
	(45) Five sound recordings
	(46) Five relate to BZ recordings

Porton Down

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MoD police officers have been involved in Wiltshire Constabulary inquiries into events at CBD Porton Down; what has been the cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Two Ministry of Defence Police Officers have been working with the Wiltshire Constabulary on Operation Antler, the inquiry into the Porton Down Service volunteer programme. The cost to date has been approximately £170,000 which includes salary and support costs.
	In addition, one Royal Navy Regulator, two Royal Military Policemen and two Royal Air Force Policemen have been working with the Wiltshire Constabulary on this inquiry at an approximate total cost of £143,000.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a representative of the Porton Down Veterans Support Group will be invited to the seminar in October at the head office of the Medical Research Council to discuss the epidemiological study of service volunteers who took part in experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down.

Lewis Moonie: Yes.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the independent Ethics Committee of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, scrutinised the study which took place in August 2000 involving RAF volunteers at the Rapier Detachment Engagement Trainer at RAF Honington; and if he will place in the Library copies of the papers of the committee which relate to the discussion of this study.

Lewis Moonie: The protocol for the study at RAF Honington was reviewed and approved by the Independent CBD Ethics Committee during their 22nd meeting held on 4 September 1997.
	The discussions of the Independent CBD Ethics Committee are undertaken in confidence and I am therefore withholding the release of the complete minutes under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice to Access to Government Information. I will, however, place the section of the minutes relevant to this trial in the Library of the House.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the reports produced by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down (a) in 1972 entitled, "The effect of miosis on visual acuity in dim light", and (b) recording the results of an experiment in 1983 in which service personnel were exposed to sarin nerve gas via single fibre electromyography.

Lewis Moonie: Yes. I will also place in the Library of the House copies of two internal Porton Down papers that record the preliminary data and conclusions of the 1983 Study. The full results and final conclusions of this 1983 study have already been published entitled: Single fibre electromyographic changes in man after organophosphate exposure (Human and Experimental Toxicology 1996, 15, 367–75).

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the protocol drawn up by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, to carry out the study in August 2000 involving RAF volunteers at the Rapier Detachment Engagement Trainer at RAF Honington.

Lewis Moonie: Yes.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down in 1973 entitled "A comparative study of central visual field changes induced by GB vapour and physostigmine salicylate eyedrops".

Lewis Moonie: Yes.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report arising out of the study in August 2000 involving RAF volunteers at the Rapier Detachment Engagement Trainer at RAF Honington organised by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.

Lewis Moonie: The report in question contains operational information. I am therefore withholding its release under exemption 1(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates staff of his Department held meetings with the Medical Research Council prior to 21 November 2000 to discuss seeking advice from the Council on the feasibility of an epidemiological study into volunteers who took part in experiments at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.

Lewis Moonie: No such meetings were held with the Medical Research Council prior to 21 November 2000.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the War Pension Agency started on 19 February to identify as separate records claims for war pensions from service personnel who took part in experiments at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.

Lewis Moonie: In order to improve available management information the War Pensions Agency decided to record separately War Pension claims from ex-Service personnel who participated in trials at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will transfer films from the archives of the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, to the Imperial War Museum.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 9 May 2001, Official Report, column 196W.

Service Discipline

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many courts martial there were in each service in (a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Service Discipline

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the costs and benefits of (a) maintaining the courts martial system and (b) maintaining services disciplinary processes while transferring criminal cases to the ordinary courts.

Adam Ingram: The system of military law, delivered through the Services' disciplinary processes which include courts martial, upholds the discipline structure inherent throughout the armed forces, and underpins tri-Service doctrine and the military chain of command that are both necessary for good order and operational effectiveness to be maintained. The military courts martial system has the statutory power and capability to deal with all but the most serious of criminal cases in the UK, subject to discussion over jurisdiction rights with appropriate civilian law agencies. Overseas, the military courts martial system has the power to deal with all military and civilian criminal cases, subject to agreement with the local authorities over jurisdiction rights. The benefit of transferring the most serious criminal cases to the ordinary courts allows a balance to be maintained between the military and civilian judicial systems. The costs of service courts martial accrue across the entire military system and are part of the running costs of each of the Services. It is therefore not possible to quote a figure separately for the military courts martial system.

Service Discipline

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when there was last a review of the courts martial system.

Adam Ingram: The system for administering discipline in the armed forces is kept under review, with the principal vehicle for any legislative changes that may be necessary being the five-yearly Armed Forces Acts. The Armed Forces Act 1996 made substantial changes in order to reinforce the independence of courts martial, and these came into effect on 1 April 1997. Further changes on this scale were not considered necessary as a result of the most recent review, which led to the Armed Forces Act 2001, not least because the procedures introduced in 1997 have worked very well.
	We have announced the intention to replace the present legislative framework for the armed forces, particularly the separate discipline Acts for each of the three services, with a single tri-service Act. The work on this will provide a further opportunity to consider whether changes are required to the overall system of discipline, including courts martial, but the key consideration will be to ensure that it continues to underpin operational effectiveness.

Type 42 Destroyers

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the last of the type 42 destroyers is scheduled to be withdrawn from active service.

Adam Ingram: On current plans, the last type 42 destroyer is scheduled to be withdrawn from active service in 2014.

Type 42 Destroyers

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what age is the oldest type 42 destroyer still in active service with the Royal Navy.

Adam Ingram: The oldest type 42 destroyer still in active service with the Royal Navy is the 23-year-old HMS Newcastle, which was commissioned in March 1978.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who decides the priority of need in (a) the upgrade programme and (b) the routine maintenance programme at the Larkhill married quarters estate.

Lewis Moonie: The assessment of need for routine maintenance is undertaken at Defence Housing Executive (DHE) Area level. In-house teams are advised by our professional establishment works consultants and works services managers in formulating the forward maintenance plan. DHE staff also undertake regular discussions with local families through the Larkhill Resident's Association and through our regular meetings with the Garrison staff.
	Assessment of upgrade requirement is undertaken on a DHE regional basis (Larkhill is within DHE South West Region covering all properties west of Andover) by the regional controller and her team. Regional recommendations are then judged by DHE HQ staff against competing priorities across the entire married quarter estate in Great Britain. The services are consulted throughout.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Larkhill married quarters estate is included in the upgrades proposed by Project Allenby.

Lewis Moonie: Project Allenby is a Ministry of Defence Study into the Public Private Partnership (PPP) potential for the redevelopment and maintenance of the MOD estate and the provision of supporting services for garrisons in the Salisbury Plain and Aldershot areas. It does not include the married quarters estate.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the grading of dwellings in the Larkhill married quarters estate is.

Lewis Moonie: The condition of married quarters is assessed against the criteria of standards, one to four. At present the core long-term estate at Larkhill has 67 properties at standard 1 for condition, 314 at standard 2, 142 at standard 3 and 49 at standard 4.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the planned maintenance programme for the defence married quarters estate includes provision for (a) gutters, (b) downpipes, (c) underground pipes, (d) drain covers and (e) garden fences; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Planned maintenance programmes extend to 10 years and with the help of Establishment Works Consultants and Works Services Managers, Defence Housing Executive's property managers determine comprehensive schedules of work. These items are then categorised for relative priority against other maintenance requirements (with health and safety issues given highest priority). If gutters, downpipes, underground pipes, drain covers and garden fences, among other items, are not assessed as requiring attention for health and safety reasons they will not necessarily attract high priority although they will be included in planned maintenance programmes for the future.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the budget and (b) the management of the planned maintenance programme for the married quarters estate.

Lewis Moonie: DHE's overall works budget of £155 million in 2001–02 is negotiated within the Department's overall process for future planning and resource allocation. Funds are bid for against (a) upgrade projects and (b) planned and response repairs. DHE's Areas and Regions produce planned maintenance programmes for a minimum of three years ahead and funds secured are delegated to Regions and thence the Areas according to a number of factors including numbers and condition of properties and levels of statutory and mandatory work. Area Property Managers manage expenditure using the services of a commercially contracted Works Services Management company. However, upgrade funding is managed from defence Housing Executive HQ and delegated with final approval of upgrade projects.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the target for completion of the married quarters upgrade programme has been made 2005.

Lewis Moonie: In 1996, its first year of operation, the Defence Housing Executive (DHE) estimated that the upgrade programme could be completed by 2003, subject to a full housing survey. The subsequent survey, completed in 1998, revealed that the extent of the work required was considerably more than originally estimated. It was therefore agreed that DHE would be set an achievable but challenging key target of achieving Standard 1 for Condition for core properties by November 2005. This target has been in place since 1998–99.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he expects the married quarters upgrade programme to be completed by the end of 2005.

Lewis Moonie: The programme to upgrade core family quarters stock should be substantially complete by November 2005.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the budget for (a) property refurbishment and (b) property maintenance in the Larkhill married quarters estate for (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Lewis Moonie: The budgets for refurbishment and property maintenance are managed on a much wider geographical basis to provide flexibility and assessment of relative priorities. Funding in support of Larkhill is managed within the Defence Housing Executive area 6 budget, which is detailed below:
	
		£ million 
		
			 Financial year Property maintenance 
		
		
			 2000–01 6.523 
			 2001–02 6.072 
			 2002–03 (47)— 
		
	
	(47) not yet known
	£285,000 has been made available within this period for refurbishment work in Larkhill.
	Area 6 also includes housing at Wilton, Boscombe Down, Winterbourne Gunner, Upavon, Netheravon, West Moors, Bovington, Middle Wallop, Blandford, Lulworth, Andover and Salisbury.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the relationship is between the functions of (a) the Larkhill Garrison Commander, (b) area 6 of the Defence Housing Executive, (c) EWC Ltd., (d) Atkins Ltd. and (e) Turners Ltd.

Lewis Moonie: The Larkhill garrison commander has overall responsibility for the operational effectiveness of his garrison. The Defence Housing Executive area 6 team have responsibility for the management of the married quarter estate and undertake regular consultations with the garrison and families.
	The DHE area team are supported by professional establishment works consultants (EWC-Carillion Services Ltd.), which provides an independent assessment of the services provided by our current works services manager (WSM)—W S Atkins Ltd.
	W S Atkins Ltd. will be replaced by Turners Ltd. in January 2002 as our works services manager for DHE area 6. The role of the WSM is to provide and manage all works requirements in support of the married quarters estate.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what money is budgeted in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 for (i) refurbishment and (ii) maintenance of the married quarters estate within Larkhill garrison as a result of the arrival of 19 Regiment RA; how many homes will be improved; at what locations; and by what dates.

Lewis Moonie: In the current financial year 2001–02, an additional £240,000 has been allocated to make ready some 180 houses for the arrival of 19 Regiment. Improvements will include general internal redecoration and re-carpeting. Where necessary, some minor alterations to kitchens will also be undertaken. The houses are located throughout the Larkhill estate. Completion of this programme is planned for March 2002.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if annual checks on all hot water and central heating boilers required under health and safety legislation have been completed this year in all service married quarters.

Lewis Moonie: The annual gas safety inspection tests are carried out on a rolling programme over the year. Nationally, the Defence Housing Executive has approximately 45,000 properties requiring a test, which means that on average some 3,750 properties are inspected each month. The latest figures available, for August 2001, indicate that 529 properties were overdue for testing. This is due to problems with gaining access to carry out the necessary inspections. The figure tends to vary over the year due to factors such as holiday seasons or during military operations when families left behind often take the opportunity to visit relatives.

Married Quarters Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when work will commence to upgrade the roads at the former married quarters estate at Boscombe Down; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Legal agreement with adjoining house owners is near completion and the Ministry of Defence is currently seeking, in conjunction with Amesbury town council, to resolve an outstanding issue of grass verge/village green elements of the estate owned by a third party. Construction is expected to commence mid 2002.

Menwith Hill and Fylingdales

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence role in the security of the United Kingdom is played by (a) Menwith Hill and (b) Fylingdales; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: RAF Menwith Hill is an integral part of the world-wide US Department of Defence communications network, which supports UK, US and NATO interests. RAF Menwith Hill is also the site for the European Relay Ground Station, which is part of the US Space Based Infra-Red System (SBIRS). SBIRS will be a world-wide satellite based system designed to provide early warning of ballistic missile launch. It will replace the ageing US Defence Support Programme (DSP) satellite system, which has for some years contributed to the security of the UK and NATO. Information on detailed operations at the base is withheld under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	RAF Fylingdales provides the UK with early warning of ballistic missile attack against the UK and Western Europe, and the US with early warning for North America.

Widows' Pensions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend the rules governing the entitlement to benefit of widows of retired servicemen to allow them to receive pension in respect of service prior to 1978.

Adam Ingram: The Government have no plans to increase the current Armed Forces Pension Scheme provisions for post retirement widows. Following longstanding practice, improvements to the armed forces and other Public Sector pension schemes do not apply retrospectively.

Air Squadrons

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK air squadrons are at full complement; what proportion this represents of the total; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I have assumed this question relates to pilots and navigators only. As at early October 2001, 19 squadrons out of a total of 72 were at full complement. This represents 26 per cent. of the total. In total, 40 squadrons (56 per cent.) were manned at 90 per cent. or better. The shortfall in aircrew is a well-recognised problem and the Ministry of Defence is taking a number of measures to address.
	The squadrons at full complement are: 3, 8, 78, 84, 99, 201, 654, 655, 656, 663, 664, 665, 669, 771, 801, 820, 845, 846, 849.
	As well as these, the following squadrons are manned at 90–99 per cent.: 1, 4, 13, 14, 22, 23, 32, 39, 47, 51, 54, 70, 101, 202, 206, 216, 662, 702, 815, 819, 848.

Canal Zone Campaign

Michael Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the establishment of a medal for those who served in the Canal Zone campaign 1951–54.

Lewis Moonie: There are no plans to institute a medal to recognise service in the Suez Canal Zone during the period 1951 to 1954. The matter was reviewed in 1998 by the then Minister for the armed forces who found no evidence that he believed would enable him to persuade the Committee on the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals to overturn their policy of non-retrospection, or to revoke any of the decisions made at the time or following various departmental reviews since 1990. No such evidence has since come to light.

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Lewis Moonie: Officials in the Ministry of Defence are currently co-ordinating the information requested. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Lewis Moonie: Ministry of Defence employees work in some 200 grades which are grouped together into five bands for pay, promotion and career development purposes. Normal retirement age is dependant upon grade, and an extract from MOD's Personnel Manual follows which lists them. About two-thirds of the work force, mainly those in support, technical and industrial grades, can retire at 60 but have the option to work to age 65. The balance, mainly managerial and professional grades, have a normal retirement age of 60. Like all Departments, we are reviewing our age retirement policy in accordance with the Government's policy of expanding the opportunities for older people in the work place.
	
		Normal retirement ages
		
			 Grade Pay band NRA 
		
		
			 Assistant Information Officer R 65 
			 Admin Assistant E2 65 
			 Academic Professor of Music R 60 
			 Assistant Chief Constable Police R 60 
			 Air Ops Officer D 65 
			 Admin Officer E1 65 
			 Area Education Officer R 60 
			 Accommodation Services Accountant E1 65 
			 Assistant Scientific Officer E1 60 
			 Assistant Librarian D 65 
			 Assistant Statistician D 60 
			 Assistant Telecommunications Technical Officer R 65 
			 British Frontier Guard 2 (Customs and Immigration) R 65 
			 British Frontier Guard 3 (Customs and Immigration) R 65 
			 British Frontier Guard 4 (Customs and Immigration) R 65 
			 Chief Inspector Police R 60 
			 Chief Police Adviser (BAOR) R 65 
			 Chief Superintendent Police R 60 
			 Captain of the Queen's Flight R 65 
			 Career Adviser R 60 
			 Civilian Accommodation Services Officer D 63 
			 Chief Constable Police R 60 
			 Chief Civilian Nursing Officer R 60 
			 Civilian Dental Practitioner R 65 
			 Chief Fire Service Officer R 65 
			 Chief Superintendent of Police (SBA) R 65 
			 Chief Typing Manager C2 60 
			 Chaplains Assistant D 65 
			 Chef 1/Chief Cook 1 R 65 
			 Chef 2/Chief Cook 2 R 65 
			 Civilian Medical Practitioner R 65 
			 Communications Officer 1 C2 65 
			 Communications Officer 2 D 65 
			 Communications Officer 3 E1 65 
			 Communications Officer 4 E2 65 
			 Conservation Officer F D 65 
			 Constable R 60 
			 Co-ordinator Anglo-American Relations R 65 
			 Chief of Police (SBA) R 65 
			 Community Relations Adviser D 65 
			 Civilian Security Officer 1 C1 65 
			 Civilian Security Officer 2 C2 65 
			 Civilian Security Officer 3 D 65 
			 Civilian Security Officer 4 E1 65 
			 Civilian Security Officer 5 E2 65 
			 Catering Manager 3 R 65 
			 Curatorial Officer C C1 65 
			 Curatorial Officer D C1 65 
			 Curatorial Officer E C2 65 
			 Curatorial Officer F D 65 
			 Curatorial Officer G E1 65 
			 Deputy Area Officer Social Worker R 60 
			 D Con 2 SCEA R 60 
			 Director of Patents R 60 
			 Director of Studies R 60 
			 Deputy Chief Constable Police R 60 
			 Deputy Chief of Police (SBA) R 65 
			 Deputy Director of Studies R 60 
			 Defence Courier R 65 
			 Educational Psychologist R 60 
			 Executive Officer D 60 
			 Estate Warden E1 65 
			 Families Officer D 65 
			 Fiscal Officer (SBA) R 65 
			 Fire Service Officer 1 R 65 
			 Fire Service Officer 2 R 65 
			 Fire Service Officer 3 R 65 
			 General Education Adviser R 60 
			 Graphics Officer D 60 
			 Graphics Technical Grade E1 60 
			 G6/A DIR DIS B1 60 
			 G6/A PROF SG B1 60 
			 G6/ACCHO B1 60 
			 G6/CIO(B) B1 60 
			 G6/CMRO B1 60 
			 G6/CSALMO B1 60 
			 G6/HP B1 60 
			 G6/P&T SUPG B1 60 
			 G6/S PRIN LB B1 65 
			 G6/SNR P PSY R 60 
			 G6/SNR PRIN B1 60 
			 G6/SPSO B1 60 
			 G6/STATISTN B1 60 
			 G7/ECON ADVR B2 60 
			 G7/HD HIST B B2 65 
			 G7/HP B2 60 
			 G7/P GRAPH O B2 60 
			 G7/P INF OFR B2 65 
			 G7/P LEC S/G B2 60 
			 G7/PCHO B2 60 
			 G7/Principal Intelligence Officer B2 65 
			 G7/Principal Intelligence Officer (Army) B2 60 
			 G7/PMRO B2 60 
			 G7/PMSO B2 60 
			 G7/PPTO B2 60 
			 G7/PRIN LIBN B2 65 
			 G7/PRIN PSY B2 60 
			 G7/PRINCIPAL B2 60 
			 G7/PRN INV O B2 65 
			 G7/PRO B2 60 
			 G7/PSALMO B2 60 
			 G7/PSO B2 60 
			 G7/STATISTN B2 60 
			 Higher Executive Officer C2 60 
			 Higher Executive Officer (D) C2 60 
			 Higher Graphics Officer C2 60 
			 Higher Instructional Officer C2 65 
			 Higher Psychologist C2 60 
			 Higher Intelligence Officer C2 65 
			 Historian 2 R 65 
			 Higher Linguist Officer C2 65 
			 Higher Mapping and Charting Officer C2 60 
			 House Parent R 60 
			 Higher Professional Photographer C2 60 
			 HPTO C2 60 
			 HPTO(D) R 60 
			 HPTO/HSO (HP) R 60 
			 House Matron R 60 
			 Higher Scientific Officer C2 60 
			 Higher Scientific Officer (D) R 60 
			 Higher Telecommunications Technical Officer C2 65 
			 Instrumental Professor of Music R 60 
			 Information Officer R 65 
			 Instructional Officer 1 D 65 
			 Instructional Officer 2 D 65 
			 Inspector Police R 60 
			 Investigating Officer 1 R 65 
			 Investigating Officer 2 R 65 
			 Information Officer 1 (Army) R 60 
			 Information Officer 2 (Army) R 60 
			 Judge (SBA) R 65 
			 Legal Adviser (SBA) R 65 
			 Lecturer D/S R 60 
			 Legal Adviser (BAOR) R 65 
			 Legal Aid Officer R 60 
			 Librarian C2 65 
			 Linguist Officer R 65 
			 Manager RNFC R 65 
			 Mapping and Charting Officer D 60 
			 Mapping and Charting Tech Grade 1 E1 65 
			 Mapping and Charting Tech Grade 2 E2 65 
			 Mess Manager A R 65 
			 Mess Manager B R 65 
			 MLSO 1 R 65 
			 MLSO 2 R 65 
			 Medical Officer R 60 
			 Museum Support Grade 1 D 65 
			 Museum Support Grade 2 D 65 
			 Museum Support Grade 3 E1 65 
			 Museum Support Grade 4 E1 65 
			 Museum Support Grade 5 E2 65 
			 Marine Services Officer 1 R 60 
			 Marine Services Officer 2 R 60 
			 Marine Services Officer 3 R 60 
			 Marine Services Officer 4 R 60 
			 Museum Technician 2 D 65 
			 Museum Technician 3 D 65 
			 Naval Regional Officer R 65 
			 P&GS A R 60 
			 P&GS B R 60 
			 P&GS C R 60 
			 P&GS D R 60 
			 P&GS E R 60 
			 Principal Lect RMAS/BRNC R 60 
			 Principal Patent Officer R 60 
			 Patent Officer R 60 
			 Principal Health and Safety Officer R 60 
			 Principal Linguist Officer R 65 
			 Principal Medical Officer R 60 
			 Police Adviser (BAOR) R 65 
			 Professional Photographer D 60 
			 Personal Secretary E1 65 
			 PTO D 60 
			 PTO 4 D 65 
			 Radio Officer D 65 
			 Record Reviewer R 65 
			 Reviser SDS R 65 
			 RO(Prin) R 65 
			 RO1 R 65 
			 RO2 R 65 
			 RO3 R 65 
			 Research Officer (R&P) R 60 
			 Senior Career Adviser 6 R 60 
			 Senior Civil Servants (formerly Grades 1–5) R 60 
			 Senior Educational Psychologist R 60 
			 Senior Information Officer R 65 
			 Senior Inspector Adviser R 60 
			 Senior Lect D/S R 60 
			 Senior Lect S/G R 60 
			 Senior Patent Officer R 60 
			 Salvage and Mooring Officer (SALMO) R 65 
			 School Catering Adviser R 60 
			 Senior Instructional Officer C1 65 
			 Senior Investigating Officer R 65 
			 Senior Librarian C1 65 
			 Senior Executive Officer C1 60 
			 Senior Executive Officer (COMMS) C1 60 
			 Senior Fire Service Officer R 65 
			 SGB 1 E1 65 
			 SGB 2 E2 65 
			 Shore Galley Design and Equip Adv C1 65 
			 Senior Graphics Officer C1 60 
			 Sergeant Police R 60 
			 Senior Health and Safety Officer R 60 
			 Senior Intelligence Officer C1 65 
			 Senior Intelligence Officer (Army) R 60 
			 Senior Linguist Officer C1 65 
			 Support Manager 1 C2 60 
			 Support Manager 2 D 60 
			 Support Manager 3 D 65 
			 Senior Mapping and Charting Officer C1 60 
			 Senior Medical Officer R 60 
			 Senior A/Statistician C2 60 
			 Senior Economic Assistant C2 60 
			 Senior Lecturer SR R 60 
			 Senior Photographer C1 60 
			 Senior Psychologist C1 60 
			 Senior Social Worker R 60 
			 Scientific Officer D 60 
			 Social Worker R 60 
			 SOG A C1 60 
			 SOG B C2 60 
			 SOG C D 60 
			 SOG D D 60 
			 Senior Professional Photographer C1 60 
			 Senior Personal Secretary D 60 
			 SPTO C1 60 
			 SPTO/SSO(HP) C1 60 
			 Senior Research Officer C1 60 
			 Senior Scientific Officer C1 60 
			 Station Warden E1 65 
			 Senior Telecommunication Technical Officer C1 65 
			 Subject Adviser R 60 
			 Supervising Traffic Rep R 65 
			 Superintendent Police R 60 
			 Supervising Radio Officer C2 60 
			 Tech Grade 1 E1 65 
			 Tech Grade 2 E2 65 
			 Traffic Rep R 65 
			 Telecommunications Technical Officer D 65 
			 Typing Manager D 65 
			 Typist E2 65 
			 Vet Officer R 60 
			 All Industrial grades R 65

Anti-armour Weapon Programme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the value of the British Army next generation anti-armour weapon contract is; when the tender closing date is; when the contract start and completion dates are; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the companies which have bid for the British Army next generation anti-armour weapon, indicating which ones are United Kingdom only companies; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 15 October 2001
	I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence on the British Army's next generation anti-armour weapon programme. The programme to which you refer is the Next Generation Light anti-Armour Weapon, known as NLAW. These matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
	The companies, which have submitted bids to meet this requirement, are SAAB Bofors Dynamics AB and Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd. Neither are wholly UK owned companies, however, Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd. is a UK registered company jointly owned by BAE Systems and EADs. BAE Systems also have a shareholding in SAAB Bofors Dynamics parent company.
	The final cost of the NLAW contract is subject to negotiation, but it is expected to be in the order of £400m. The tender closing date was 21 September 2001 and it is anticipated that the contract will be let next year. The contract could run for up to 25 years, if all the in-service support options are selected, but it is expected that the Development and Production elements will be complete by 2009.

Anti-armour Weapon Programme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when MBT-Law UK's British Next Generation anti-armour weapon will be ready for service; what the projected cost of this contract is; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: MBT-LAW is one of the competitors to meet the Next Generation Light anti-armour weapon (NLAW) requirement. The preferred bidder will be announced next year, and a contract let shortly afterwards. We currently anticipate this system being ready for service in 2006–07. The final cost of the NLAW contract is subject to negotiation but it is expected to be in the order of £400 million.

Australian Bushmaster

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to purchase Australian Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 15 October 2001
	I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to purchase the Australian Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
	The Australian Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicle was a contender for the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle programme, but the manufacturer withdrew the vehicle during the concept stage of the project in 2000. As a result there are no current plans to purchase the Bushmaster vehicle.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers have (a) died and (b) been injured as a result of firearms discharged on army property since the IRA ceasefire; on what dates; what the results were of (i) internal investigations and (ii) coroner's inquests in each case; where other soldiers were involved, what disciplinary measures were taken; where papers were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions, how long he took to reach a decision on prosecution and what the result was.

Adam Ingram: There were no deaths or injuries in 1994 as a result of firearms discharged on Army property in Northern Ireland since the IRA ceasefire of 31 August.
	In 1995 there were three deaths which occurred on 21 June, 13 September and 25 September. The Coroner's verdict was that each soldier died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. One injury occurred on 26 December. It is not normal practice to comment on the result of internal investigations or any resultant disciplinary action as this is a personal matter for the parties involved. However, I can confirm that one other soldier was involved in this injury and the matter was resolved under military jurisdiction. No papers were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
	In 1996 one death occurred on 20 July. The Coroner's verdict stated that the death was consistent with a bullet wound to the chest. There were no injuries in that year. It is not normal practice to comment on the result of internal investigations. No papers were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
	There was one death in 1997 which occurred on 3 September. The verdict of the Coroner was that death was consistent with a bullet wound to the chest. There were also two injuries that year. These occurred on 9 and 16 August. It is not normal practice to comment on the result of internal investigations or any resultant disciplinary action as this is a personal matter for the parties involved. However, I can confirm that two soldiers were questioned regarding the incident on 9 August under military jurisdiction. No papers were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
	There were no deaths or injuries in 1998.
	In 1999 there were no injuries but one death occurred on 23 November. The circumstances surrounding the death have yet to be heard in the Coroner's Court. It is not normal practice to comment on the result of internal investigations. No papers were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
	There were no deaths or injuries in 2000.
	Up until 31 September 2001 two deaths were recorded. These were on 25 January and 30 July. The circumstances surrounding the first death is under consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions and both deaths are awaiting a Coroner's Inquest. It is not normal practice to comment on the result of internal investigations. There were no injuries during that period.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish, for every year since the first paramilitary ceasefires for which it is possible (a) figures on the frequency and duration of (i) military and (ii) other helicopter flights, (b) the number of civilian complaints and amount of compensation paid during this period in relation to such flights and (c) the steps taken to scale down military presence according to perceived terrorist threat; and if he will set out the means by which he informs himself of the nature and purpose of each helicopter flight and monitors the progressive reduction of flights.

Adam Ingram: As Minister for the Armed Forces I can reply only on military aircraft. Records of individual military flights in the Province are not maintained but are recorded in flying hours and are shown in the table:
	
		
			 Dates Flying hours 
		
		
			 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 31,289 
			 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 27,827 
			 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 28,088 
			 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 28,772 
			 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 24,620 
			 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 24,734 
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 25,717 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 August 2001 11,324 
		
	
	Compensation is paid out during the financial year and the figures shown in the following table relate to the cases that were settled during that year:
	
		
			 Dates Compensation paid (£) 
		
		
			 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 6,365,380 
			 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 1,726,693 
			 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 645,260 
			 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 903,350 
			 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 880,040 
			 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 1,005,648 
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 922,671 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 August 2001 216,404 
		
	
	Formal records on complaints about military helicopters were not kept until the beginning of 1997. They are recorded by calendar year and are set out as follows:
	
		
			 Year Complaints 
		
		
			 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997 (48)647 
			 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1998 511 
			 1 January 1999 to 31 December 1999 439 
			 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000 553 
			 1 January 2001 to 31 August 2001 288 
		
	
	(48) This figure differs from that which was given on 3 November 1998, Official Report, column 442W. It has become clear that, due to the wide variety of agencies dealing with helicopter complaints, there was an element of duplication in the figures provided earlier. The number of complaints has been revised to take account of this.
	Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement a number of steps have been taken to scale down the level of helicopter activity. Since March 1999 Chinook and Sea King helicopters have been rear based on the Mainland. The operational profile has been altered to minimise intrusion, which includes operating at greater altitudes to reduce noise and modifying approach paths to avoid built-up area where topography and weather conditions permit. Also no helicopters are flown between 2300 hours and 0600 hours, except when operationally essential.
	The General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland keeps the use of helicopters constantly under review and steps are taken, where possible, to reduce the helicopter profile. However, this is dependent on the security situation and the threat posed by terrorists. As can be seen from the table on flying hours there has been an increase in the year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 which can be attributed to the increased terrorist threat from Dissident Republicans.

Independent Assessor of Military Complaints

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has made to the 8th annual report of the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints with particular reference to the recommendations of the report (a) to take steps to reduce the number of complaints about helicopters and to make pilots aware of the costs of compensation claims, (b) to carry out an independent evaluation of community awareness training and (c) to take steps to promote the informal resolution of complaints.

Adam Ingram: The Independent Assessor of Military Complaints submits his report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as required by Section 98 and Schedule 11 to the Terrorism Act 2000. In the last couple of his reports the Independent Assessor has concentrated on helicopter complaints which is understandable given the continued need for the use of helicopters owing to the terrorist threat from Dissident Republicans.
	The Ministry of Defence values the views of the Independent Assessor and has taken on board the three recommendations he made in his latest Report. Details of compensation awards as a result of helicopter activity are now sent to the Commander of the Joint Helicopter Force (Northern Ireland) so that pilots can be made aware of the financial impact their actions can have. Headquarters Northern Ireland (HQNI) are also considering how best the Community Awareness Training might be evaluated by an independent body and are looking at a number of agencies that may be able to carry out this task. The emphasis on informal resolution of complaints remains a priority for HQNI and they continue to work closely with the Civil Representatives from the Northern Ireland Office in achieving this goal.

HMS Dryad

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of HMS Dryad.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 334–5W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) in which I advised the House that, in parallel with the work on the Defence Training Review, the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency had conducted a comprehensive review of its training estate. As a result, work has been started on the development of the Integrated Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood, in Fareham, which will deliver maritime warfare training from a single site and encompass the warfare training currently undertaken at HMS Dryad. Under this programme, as I advised the House at the time, HMS Dryad will become surplus to requirements.
	The target date for closure is no later than 2011, but it is planned to transfer elements of training from HMS Dryad to HMS Collingwood progressively over the next few years, with a view to achieving an earlier closure if possible. This will help us to maximise the operational and financial benefits from the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency's estate rationalisation programme. While the closure of Dryad is expected to result in a reduction of some 70 Service and 40 MOD civilian posts in the NRTA, this will be more than offset by the proposed move of elements of Fleet to HMS Excellent, which will take place before the closure of HMS Dryad. Taken together these two proposals are expected to produce a net increase of about 25 Service and 60 civilian posts in the Portsmouth area.
	Detailed proposals for all the above measures will be subject to normal consultative procedures at the appropriate time.

Kursk

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the United Kingdom has been of helping to raise the Russian submarine Kursk; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: There has been no United Kingdom Government involvement in the Kursk recovery operation and therefore no costs have arisen.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of QinetiQ's research and development projects will be focused on (a) defence technologies, (b) telecommunications, (c) health care and (d) non defence related technologies; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence research contracts currently account for 35 per cent. of QinetiQ's income. A further 44 per cent. of QinetiQ's income comes from other non-research work such as project support work for the Defence Procurement Agency and technical advice to the operational commands. The balance of QinetiQ's income is from non-MOD sources including commercial customers. It would not be in the commercial interests of the company, or the Government as future vendor, to release detailed financial information at this stage in the PPP process.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much QinetiQ's new medium wave infra-red telescope cost to produce; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The medium-wave infra-red telescope is part of a Ministry of Defence research programme begun in the early 1990s designed to understand the phenomenology of aircraft infra-red signatures and investigate detector technologies. The telescope is owned by the MOD and operated by QinetiQ.
	It is not our practice to release costs of individual research programmes as this may allow a detailed picture to be built up of the UK's defence research priorities and future defence capabilities. I am accordingly withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much QinetiQ's new submarine research and technology centre cost to build; what alternative sites were explored; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The centre cost in the order of £462,000 to set up and was formed by co-locating existing research capabilities, facilities and equipment from QinetiQ laboratories at Winfrith and Bincleaves into one building on the Winfrith site. The figure does not include the past investment in equipment which has been co-located.
	Several possible sites around the south coast area in Dorset were explored. The eventual decision reflected the most cost effective solution, and minimised disruption and inconvenience to staff.

QinetiQ

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the US State Department has given its approval to amend the manufacturing licence for the UK Apache Attack Helicopter to enable QinetiQ to access US proprietary data.

Lewis Moonie: The US State Department gave its approval on 1 October 2001.

RAF Chilmark

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to dispose of the former RAF Chilmark site; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Much of RAF Chilmark including outlying areas has now been sold. Part of the remaining area is of high conservation and wildlife value, and a trust consisting of the local authorities and interest groups has been constituted with a view to buying and managing the site. The Ministry of Defence is in discussion with representatives of the trust, and it is hoped that terms for a sale to take place during 2002 can be agreed shortly.
	The remainder of the site, which the trust does not intend to purchase, still requires clearance of explosive ordnance residues. A decision on the disposal of this final part will be made once the extent of residual contamination has been determined.

Hunting Plc

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) total cost, (b) life span and (c) cost to his Department of each contract with Hunting PCC in the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Hunting PCC is not recognised as a Ministry of Defence supplier; it is assumed that the question is referring to Hunting plc and information is provided on that basis. Data at the level requested are not routinely held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I am, however, able to advise that during the past five years 130 contracts with a total value of just over £430 million have been placed with Hunting plc by the Ministry of Defence.

Indian Armed Forces (Training)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of India's armed forces have been in the UK for training over the last four years; what the cost to his Department has been; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: During the period 1 September 1997 to 31 August 2001, 24 officers of India's armed forces were trained in the UK at a cost to the Ministry of Defence Fund of £317,822.59. The officers attended courses at the Royal College of Defence Studies, the Joint Services Command and Staff College, the Royal Military College of Science and the Royal Defence Medical College.

Overseas Procurement Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department has given to United Kingdom-based companies bidding for the New Zealand MoD contract for light armoured vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Defence Export Services Organisation in MOD provided general marketing advice to a number of UK companies which were interested in the New Zealand requirement.

Overseas Procurement Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which United Kingdom companies his Department supported in a bid for the Polish MoD contract for a new 8x8 wheeled armoured carrier; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: To date the Ministry of Defence has not been approached by British companies for support in connection with the Polish requirement. Should we be asked to provide assistance in the future, we would of course respond as positively as possible, in line with the Government support for UK defence industry and legitimate defence exports.

Stevens Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of the Force Research Unit (a) have been interviewed by the Stevens Inquiry team, (b) have refused to be interviewed and (c) are prevented from being interviewed by (i) legal and (ii) other impediments.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is fully supportive of the Stevens Inquiry and will continue to provide it with whatever assistance it can. It would, however, be inappropriate for me to comment further on an ongoing police inquiry.

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by his Department, including and distinguishing between the Department itself, its next step agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

Lewis Moonie: My officials are currently investigating the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Armaments Procurement Contracts

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which armaments procurement contracts, with a value greater than £1 million, will (a) go out to tender and (b) have contracts signed, in the next financial year;
	(2)  if he will list the current armament procurement contracts in respect of which there is a delay in (a) delivery date and (b) anticipated date of entry into service of more than (i) six months, (ii) one year and (iii) two years; and what additional costs have arisen from such delays.

Lewis Moonie: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Weapons Accident Response Exercises

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many exercises to test procedures for dealing with accidents involving nuclear weapons will be held in 2001; what the (a) dates and (b) locations are of each of these exercises; what the titles and scenarios are of each of these exercises; and how many of these exercises involve the US Government.

Geoff Hoon: The following table gives the current date, name and location of nuclear weapon accident response exercises for 2001. I am withholding details of the exercise scenarios under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I can confirm that none of the exercises involves US participation.
	
		
			 Month Name Location 
		
		
			 May NW Convoy Group Standardisation Lincolnshire 
			 June Exercise Bowline Coulport 
			 July RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(49) Wiltshire 
			 September MOD Police Nuclear Weapon Convoy Standardisation Lincolnshire 
			 October RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(49) Suffolk 
			 October Bronze Endeavour Norfolk 
			 November RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(49) Oxfordshire 
			 November Exercise Senator Bedfordshire 
		
	
	(49) RAF Station Nuclear Accident Response (NAR) teams provide immediate response forces for the air transportation of nuclear weapons

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value is of contracts let in connection with RAF Menwith Hill in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001; how many such contracts have been let; to whom they have been let; and what percentage of contracts have been let to UK firms.

Adam Ingram: The value and numbers of contracts let by the Ministry of Defence in connection with RAF Menwith Hill were as follows:
	
		
			 Financial years Contracts let Value £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 199 3,168 
			 1999–2000 313 4,747 
			 2000–01 414 3,296 
			 1 April 2001 to 14 September 2001 242 2,798 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are exclusive of VAT
	Details of individual contracts have been withheld under exemption 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and the names of individual contractors have been withheld under exemption 4e of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The majority of contracts have been awarded to UK Prime Contractors, but this work may be sub-contracted to UK or other companies.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the complement was of Ministry of Defence police at RAF Menwith Hill on (a) 1 January and (b) 15 July; and what percentage of the cost of these personnel on each date was met by the US Government.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding details of the MDP complement (on 1 January 2001 and 15 July 2001) at RAF Menwith Hill in accordance with exemption 1 (defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I can, however, confirm that staffing levels have been significantly increased in recent months.
	The financial arrangements governing the MDP presence at RAF Menwith Hill are covered by a memorandum of understanding between the UK and US Governments. The costs incurred by HMG for the MDP presence at RAF Menwith Hill are reimbursed by the US Government, except where overtime is occasioned by the activities of protesters, which is a direct cost to the UK.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many alleged breaches of security have occurred at RAF Menwith Hill in each year from 1990 to date.

Adam Ingram: Central records of incursions at RAF Menwith Hill were not kept prior to 1996. Since then, the figures are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996 17 
			 1997 51 
			 1998 30 
			 1999 1 
			 2000–01 1 
		
	
	The noticeable drop since 1999 reflects the erection of a perimeter security fence at the site.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MoD personnel at RAF Menwith Hill are under the operational control of US visiting forces.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 October 2001, 257 Ministry of Defence personnel employed at RAF Menwith Hill are under the line management of the United States visiting force as part of their day-to-day duties.

Defence Research and Development Projects

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the projects and European countries involved in collaborating with the MoD on specific defence research and development projects.

Lewis Moonie: Under bilateral or multilateral arrangements relating to research, the Ministry of Defence has significant numbers of joint programmes or information exchanges with the following countries or organisations:
	
		
			 Country/organisation Number of programmes 
		
		
			 France 60 
			 Sweden 28 
			 Netherlands/Norway 31 
			 Germany 20 
			 WEAG(50)/EUCLID(51) 38 
			 Miscellaneous 10 
		
	
	(50) Western European Armaments Group: informal grouping of European Defence Ministers providing policy direction for armaments and research issues.
	(51) European Co-operation for the Long-term in Defence (EUCLID) based on competition and contracts placed on lead contractors, usually with some industrial funding.
	International research collaboration also takes place under the umbrella of NATO. Details are not included as NATO also includes non-European countries.
	Many technologies are involved, including:
	Energetic Materials and Plasmas
	Structural Materials and Structural Effects Analysis
	Sensor Systems
	Computer Applications and Information Processing
	Design Aspects—Platforms and Weapons
	Photonic/Optical Materials and Devices
	Electronic and Electrical Devices
	Signature Control and Signature Reduction
	Computing Technologies
	Operating Environmental Issues
	Communications and CIS Related Technologies
	Integration and other Systems Issues
	Guidance and Control Systems (Weapons and Platforms)
	Propulsion and Powerplants
	Electronic Materials
	Manufacturing Processes/Design tools/Techniques.

Weather Modification Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on weather modification experiments undertaken on behalf of his Department.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Roving Sands Exercise

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Lewes, of 16 July 2001, Official Report, column 7W, what scenario was assumed in this year's Roving Sands exercise.

Adam Ingram: This year, exercise Roving Sands was based on the scenario of a multi-national coalition of air defence assets in a high-intensity conflict.

RAF Fylingdales

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) UK and (b) US (i) military and (ii) civil personnel are deployed at RAF Fylingdales.

Adam Ingram: As at 5 September 2001, there were 81 UK military, 318 UK civilian, one US military and 10 US civilian personnel deployed at RAF Fylingdales.

RAF Feltwell

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he ensures, in the absence of RAF personnel at RAF Feltwell, that the activities undertaken at the base are consistent with the UK national interest.

Adam Ingram: RAF Feltwell falls within the administrative responsibility of the RAF Commander Lakenheath, who regularly visits the base in the course of his day-to-day duties.

Fishing (Luce Bay)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long he expects the ban on fishing extending across Luce Bay in Wigtownshire to remain in place due to unrecovered ordnance left by the RAF after testing procedures.

Lewis Moonie: The area of Luce Bay currently closed to fishing covers approximately 2 square miles. Officials are working with the appropriate authorities to have navigation buoys put in place to mark clearly an area of 0.103 square miles which will be permanently closed to fishing. The work to place the buoys is expected to be completed shortly.

Fishing (Luce Bay)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to agree compensation provisions for fishermen excluded by MOD restriction orders from fishing grounds in Luce Bay, Wigtownshire.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has no special plans to agree compensation provisions for fishermen excluded from the fishing grounds in Luce Bay, Wigtownshire. When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation, we do so.
	One claim for compensation has been received from a fisherman alleging a loss of earnings caused by his exclusion from fishing grounds in Luce Bay. On investigation, it was determined that in excluding this individual from the area for reasons of safety, the range authorities were acting within their legal rights as laid down in the relevant local bye-laws. As a result, liability was denied and no compensation has been paid.

Dundrennan Range, Kirkcudbrightshire

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for future capital investment by his Department at Dundrennan Range, Kirkcudbrightshire.

Lewis Moonie: The facilities at Dundrennan are used primarily for infantry training and also offer facilities for ammunition testing. In terms of infantry training, the facilities represent a valuable resource and we wish to maximise their utility. Starting in June next year, a programme of building will commence which will provide training accommodation with supporting infrastructure to house up to 500 personnel and an infantry field firing range complex. There are no plans to develop the ammunition testing facility.

Strategic Defence Review

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the size of the (a) regular and (b) Territorial Army beyond the levels envisaged in the Strategic Defence Review.

Adam Ingram: Decisions were taken in the Strategic Defence Review about the size and structure of the Army, which included the creation of a sixth deployable brigade and a second line of communication. It is intended to man the Army to achieve this, and it will require an increase in its strength from current levels. The extent of the increase will depend in part on the outcome of on-going studies into the best ways of delivering the military capability required of the Army.
	There are no plans to reduce the Territorial Army below the size announced in November 1998.

Territorial Army

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army units are commanded by (a) Regular Army and (b) Territorial Army officers.

Lewis Moonie: A total of 59 Territorial Army units are commanded by Regular Army officers and 46 are commanded by Territorial Army officers.

Territorial Army

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) two-star generals and (b) generals above this rank serving in the Army are Territorial Army officers.

Lewis Moonie: There are no two-star generals or generals above this rank currently serving in the Territorial Army.

Territorial Army

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) establishment and (b) actual strength was of the Territorial Army on 1 July.

Lewis Moonie: As at 1 July, the actual strength of the Territorial Army (less non-regular permanent staff) was 40,409, some 800 below the agreed establishment of 41,204.

Territorial Army

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which the most undermanned unit is in the Territorial Army, expressed as actual strength as a percentage of establishment strength.

Lewis Moonie: The most undermanned unit in the Territorial Army (TA) is 203 Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps (Volunteers). The actual strength of this regiment is currently 59 per cent. of its establishment strength. As the hon. Member may know, there is a general shortfall in numbers in the Army Medical Services (TA) and a recruiting campaign is in place to address this. Numbers are beginning to increase and I expect this trend to continue.

Territorial Army

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been realised by the sale of Territorial Army centres since May 1997.

Lewis Moonie: Figures are not available for the period before April 1998. Since that date, some £7 million in receipts has been achieved from the sale of sites used primarily by the Territorial Army, in addition to a receipt in excess of £66 million for the Duke of York's HQ in London. A number of disposals of such sites are still in progress.

Territorial Army

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers have been commissioned in the Territorial Army in the last three years.

Lewis Moonie: In the last three years, 2,314 officers have been commissioned into the Territorial Army. This figure excludes non-regular permanent staff.

Territorial Army

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers have left the Territorial Army, including those transferring to the long-term reserve list, in the last three years.

Lewis Moonie: In the last three years, 2,663 officers have left the Territorial Army. This figure excludes non-regular permanent staff.

Royal Navy Reserve

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength was of the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 July.

Lewis Moonie: The strength of the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 July 2001 was 3,144.

Armed Forces

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy to maintain a one Army concept for the Regular and Territorial Armies.

Lewis Moonie: We remain fully committed to a TA that is relevant, usable and fully integrated into our armed forces.

Salisbury Plain Training (Accidents)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the result was of the investigation into the cause of the fatal accident to a Challenger II tank on Salisbury Plain on 11 July;
	(2)  how many fatal accidents have occurred on Salisbury Plain training estate since 1 January 2000; what vehicles were involved; and what the cause of death was, and which emergency service was first on the scene, in each case.

Adam Ingram: There have been two fatal accidents on Salisbury Plain training area since 1 January 2000. Private Christopher France died in an accident on 6 April 2000 after being struck by a Pinzgauer vehicle, and Lieutenant Paul Syred and Corporal Michael Paterson were killed in July this year when the Challenger 2 tank in which they were travelling overturned. The police and ambulance services arrived promptly at the scenes of both incidents.
	The Ministry of Defence continues to investigate both accidents and I am therefore unable to provide further details at this stage.

Japanese PoWs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation applications have been received for former PoWs held by the Japanese under his Department's new scheme; how many have been approved; how many have been rejected; and how many have been upheld after appeal.

Lewis Moonie: As at 9 October 2001, a total of 27,628 claims have been received for payments under the ex-gratia scheme. 22,437 payments have been made, 3,761 claims have been rejected. As the payments are made on an ex-gratia basis, there is no formal right of appeal against rejection. However, the War Pensions Agency will reconsider any claim on receipt of further representations.

London Weighting

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total value of London weightings and London living allowances for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The cost of the various London payments made to service and civilian staff in the Ministry of Defence is £20.3 million. Some 13,300 military and civilian staff are in receipt of such payments.

Departmental Spending

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total amount of spending by his Department was in each nation and region of the UK, in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of his Department's total spending this constitutes; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I regret that data on defence expenditure as a whole are not available by nation and region of the UK and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I draw the hon. Member's attention to the recently published document, "Defence Statistics 2001", a copy of which is available in the Library. Table 1.9 contains data on defence expenditure on equipment by region and nation.

Departmental Properties

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Lewis Moonie: Decisions about the Ministry of Defence use of buildings are not made primarily on the basis of cost. Operational and other factors also play a part. Running costs for MOD buildings are not as present held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, with the publication of "In Trust and On Trust: A Strategy for the Defence Estate" in June 2000, MOD has begun to establish a basis on which such information can be more easily collected and assessed. This process may, however, take some time to complete to the level of detail requested.

Legal Services

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the numbers of qualified lawyers and support staff in each of the armed services' legal departments, identifying where possible those concerned with courts martials, in (a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000.

Adam Ingram: The employment of qualified lawyers and support staff in the armed forces, and the organisation of the individual service legal branches, varies greatly.
	The Naval Service—the number of qualified lawyers in the Royal Navy for the years requested are:
	
		
			 Year Qualified lawyers 
		
		
			 1980 29 
			 1990 29 
			 2000 33 
		
	
	The Royal Navy does not have a dedicated legal branch. Instead, qualified naval barristers are employed in legal posts throughout the service. In the year 2000, there were 21 legal posts of which 17 were filled by barristers. The remaining 16 lawyers will have been employed in normal naval duties afloat and ashore. Unfortunately, no such statistics exist for the years 1980 and 1990. It is estimated that between one third and one half of the qualified legal personnel will have been involved in court martial proceedings as a part of their duties.
	As the naval service does not possess a dedicated legal department, there are no dedicated support staff. It is estimated that about 12 senior and junior RN ratings would have supported the various naval barristers whose work included court martial proceedings. In 1996, a dedicated court martial management cell was established specifically to administer courts martial, consisting of five service and civilian support personnel.
	The Army—in both 1980 and 1990, the lawyer strength of the Adjutant General Corps Army Legal Services (AGC(ALS)), formerly the Army Legal Corps, was approximately 53, with the number of these involved in court martial related work estimated as 32. The lawyer strength for 2000 is 97. It is estimated that about 25 to 30 support staff existed in the years 1980 and 1990, and that there were approximately 72 support staff in the year 2000. The exact figures cannot be quoted as a number of the support staff were locally employed personnel at overseas stations, and the figures are not held centrally.
	In April 1997 the Army Prosecuting Authority (APA) was formed, with two branches—one in the UK, the other in Germany. The total strength of the APA during the year 2000 dealing with courts martial was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Lawyers 30 
			 Support staff 32 
		
	
	The Royal Air Force—the number of qualified lawyers in the RAF, for the years requested, are:
	
		
			 Year Qualified lawyers 
		
		
			 1980 21(8) 
			 1990 24(9) 
			 2000 32(12) 
		
	
	The bracketed figures represent the estimated number of qualified RAF legal officers who were involved in discipline casework, which includes courts martial. Prior to the establishment of the RAF Prosecuting Authority in 1997, some legal officers, particularly in overseas locations, combined a small amount of court martial work with other duties. It is estimated that the number of RAF legal support staff has remained constant at approximately 13 (one NCO and 12 civilians) for each of the dates requested.

Training (Canada)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been involved in training in Canada in each of the last three years; how many have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured; how many incidents there have been involving live firing; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The facilities used by the UK armed forces in Canada at Suffield and Wainwright offer excellent training opportunities and, as is the case wherever we train, safety is of paramount importance. Safety is managed by trained staff using GPS, cellular phone and terrain data base technology. Any death or injury is, of course, a matter of great regret, but our safety record in Canada—as elsewhere—is good.
	The numbers of UK service personnel involved in training in Canada in each of the last three years, the numbers killed and seriously injured, and the number of live firing incidents that were investigated by the land accident investigation team (LAIT) are shown in the table.
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001(52) 
		
		
			 Numbers of UK Service personnel involved in training 5,665 5,579 7,712 
			 Numbers killed 0 1 1 
			 Numbers seriously injured 1 1 3 
			 Numbers of live firing incidents investigated by LAIT 4 8 3 
		
	
	(52) To date

Terrorist Attacks (USA)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) NATO and (b) the European Union on the United Kingdom's response to the events in the USA on 11 September; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: We are committed to pursuing concrete steps to counter terrorism in a number of international forums, and continue to meet overseas colleagues as part of the effort to build a strong international coalition against terrorism. In particular, I have met with NATO and EU colleagues on a number of occasions since 11 September, including during the NATO and EU informal ministerial meetings in Brussels on 26 September and 12 October respectively, to discuss measures to be taken in response to the attacks on the United States.
	For the first time in its history, NATO has invoked article 5 of the North Atlantic treaty, which states that an armed attack on one ally is an attack on all. Allies have now agreed material assistance to the US in response to the 11 September outrages, including the deployment of AWACS early warning aircraft and the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean.
	The EU Special Council on 21 September agreed to co-operate with the US in bringing to justice and punishing the perpetrators of the 11 September attacks, and approved a set of measures to combat terrorism, including enhancing police and judicial co-operation, developing international legal instruments, putting an end to the funding of terrorism and strengthening air security. The General Affairs Council on 8 October confirmed that all partners strongly support the US and UK military action.

Terrorist Attacks (USA)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the criteria to be used to determine terrorist targets to be attacked by NATO in response to the American World Trade Centre and Pentagon attacks.

Geoff Hoon: NATO, as an organisation, has not participated in attacks on terrorist targets in Afghanistan. The alliance has, however, invoked article 5 of the Washington treaty, which states that an armed attack on one ally is an attack on all, in response to the 11 September terrorist attacks. This is the strongest possible message that NATO allies stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in response to these outrages. Further to a request from the US, allies have agreed to take 8 measures in support of the US response to the terrorist attacks, including deployment of AWACS early warning aircraft to the United States.
	US and British forces operations in Afghanistan over recent days are designed to damage, disrupt and destroy al-Qaeda's terrorist network and elements of the military infrastructure of the Taliban, whose support has allowed Afghanistan to be used as a base for terrorism across the world. The targets included terrorist training camps, military airfields and air defence sites.

Civil Service

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of each civil service grade in his Department is located in each region and nation of the UK; what the average salary is for each grade; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The information required is given in the following tables:
	
		Number of staff by grade level and region (Full-time equivalent) April 2000
		
			  Grade equivalent (paid grade)  
			  Government office region SCS Band B Band C Band D Band E Industrial/ other grades All grades 
		
		
			 London 130 707 2,377 1,621 3,198 557 8,590 
			 South East 71 1,283 5,268 4,102 6,688 4,962 22,375 
			 South West 89 1,170 6,038 4,221 7,268 3,986 22,772 
			 West Midlands 17 499 1,498 1,239 2,177 2,583 8,014 
			 North West 1 17 260 325 1,109 445 2,156 
			 North East — — 42 42 173 230 487 
			 Yorks and Humber 2 21 293 693 1,011 966 2,986 
			 East Midlands — 22 331 339 982 952 2,626 
			 Eastern 8 164 1,391 1,331 2,430 1,061 6,385 
			  
			 England total 318 3,881 17,499 13,914 25,038 15,743 76,392 
			 
			 Wales 3 37 328 711 1,384 2,512 4,975 
			 Scotland 3 90 1,080 1,430 3,811 2,980 9,394 
			 Northern Ireland 1 13 215 241 1,103 1,655 3,228 
			 Unreported and elsewhere 40 261 1,571 616 710 3,146 6,344 
			  
			 Grand total 365 4,282 20,693 16,912 32,046 26,036 100,333 
		
	
	
		Number of staff by grade level and region (Full-time equivalent) April 2000
		
			  Grade equivalent (paid grade)  
			  Government office region SCS Band B Band C Band D Band E Industrial/ other grades All grades 
		
		
			 London 36 17 11 10 10 2 9 
			 South East 19 30 25 24 21 19 22 
			 South West 24 27 29 25 23 15 23 
			 West Midlands 5 12 7 7 7 10 8 
			 North West — — — — — — — 
			 North East — — — — 1 1 — 
			 Yorks and Humber 1 — 1 4 3 4 3 
			 East Midlands — 1 2 2 3 4 3 
			 Eastern 2 4 7 8 8 4 6 
			  
			 England total 87 91 85 82 78 60 76 
			 
			 Wales 1 1 2 4 4 10 5 
			 Scotland 1 2 5 8 12 11 9 
			 Northern Ireland — — 1 1 3 6 3 
			 Unreported and elsewhere 11 6 8 4 2 12 6 
			  
			 Grand total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	
		Median salary by pay band as at September 2000
		
			 Grade equivalence pay band Salary (£) 
		
		
			 SCS 56,990 
			 Band B 35,639 
			 Band C 20,873 
			 Band D 18,400 
			 Band E 16,771 
			 Industrial/other grades 26,075

Royal Navy Vessels

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels are (a) ready for active service, (b) currently undergoing refit and (c) out of service but not currently undergoing refit; what proportion of all vessels each category represents; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The following table shows, as at 1 October 2001, the Royal Navy vessels undergoing refits or docking periods and the total number of vessels in each class. There are currently no vessels held out of service.
	
		
			 (i) Type (ii) Vessels undergoing refit/docking period (iii) Percentage of vessels (iv) Total number 
		
		
			 SSBN 0 0 4 
			 
			 SSN Sceptre   
			  Spartan   
			  Torbay 42 12  
			  Trenchant   
			  Turbulent   
			 
			 CVS Invincible 66 3  
			  Ark Royal   
			 
			 Destroyers/Frigates Liverpool   
			  Manchester   
			  Iron Duke   
			  Cardiff 22 32  
			  Cumberland   
			  Somerset   
			  Grafton   
			 
			 Minor war vessels Cottesmore 9 22  
			  Sandown   
			 
			 Patrol vessels Dumbarton 28 7  
			  Castle   
			 
			 Royal fleet auxiliaries Orangeleaf 6 17 
		
	
	All RN vessels other than those listed at (ii) above are within the operation of the fleet and as such are ready for active service within agreed timescales.

Awareness Events

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) national and (b) international awareness events his Department has participated in since June 1997 in the form of (i) sponsorship, (ii) departmental attendance, (iii) similar departmental activities and (iv) a message of support.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

BBC World Service

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he was consulted on the ending of shortwave broadcasting by the BBC World Service to North America and Australasia; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Operational decisions on resource allocation are for the World Service, working within the framework of overall objectives agreed with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The World Service informed the Government of its plan to withdraw from short wave broadcasts to the regions concerned in advance. The Government have asked the World Service to review the impact on audience figures next year.

Pakistan

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to Pakistan regarding their use of the death penalty to enforce their blasphemy laws.

Ben Bradshaw: We were instrumental in ensuring that the EU followed up an earlier demarche to the Pakistani Attorney-General and Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights, Ms Shahida Jamil, on 28 August, which reiterated the EU's concern about the misuse of the blasphemy laws and the unacceptability of the death penalty in Pakistan.
	Along with our EU partners, we will continue to look for appropriate opportunities to raise our concerns about the blasphemy laws and the application of the death penalty with the Pakistani authorities.

Coalition against Terrorism

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the United States Government regarding the role of (a) Iran and (b) Saudi Arabia in the coalition against terrorism.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government cannot disclose the detail of confidential discussions. We are committed to building international consensus against terrorism through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

Kashmir

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is regarding the situation in Kashmir.

Ben Bradshaw: We remain concerned by the situation in Kashmir and continue to urge India and Pakistan to persevere with dialogue to resolve all issues outstanding between them. In this context, we welcome the recent contacts between President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee.

Kashmir

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for the people of Kashmir following the meeting between Indian and Pakistani leaders.

Ben Bradshaw: We welcomed the talks between Prime Minister Vajpayee and General Musharraf in July. We hope that India and Pakistan will persevere with dialogue and reach a peaceful settlement to this issue.

Kashmir

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made since July in allowing international human rights monitors to enter Kashmir.

Ben Bradshaw: I regret that there has been no progress since my answer to the same question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Mrs. Fitzsimons) on 10 July 2001, Official Report, column 474W. We continue to impress upon the Indian Government the benefits of transparency and regularly urge them to allow access for human rights bodies, including the UN Rapporteurs on Torture and on Extra-judicial Executions, the Working Group on Disappearances and groups such as Amnesty International.

Royal Prerogative

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions since 26 July when he has exercised his powers under the royal prerogative.

Denis MacShane: A number of powers under the royal prerogative are exercised on the advice of the Secretary of State. These include the conduct of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the management of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Records are not kept centrally of the individual occasions on which such powers are exercised.

Brazil

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) ministerial visits and (b) visits by officials to Brazil in the last year.

Denis MacShane: In the 12-month period prior to the date this question was tabled, the following outward ministerial visits took place to Brazil:
	18 to 24 September 2000: The Attorney-General
	15 to 19 October 2000: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
	4 to 8 November 2000: The Minister for Housing
	6 to 7 December 2000: The Minister for Schools
	30 July to 1 August 2001: The Prime Minister (accompanied by the Minister of State for Trade and Investment and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and myself).
	In the same period, the following senior officials visited Brazil:
	2 to 6 October 2000: Chief Clerk, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	26 November to 1 December 2000: Chief of Air Staff, Ministry of Defence
	27 November to 1 December 2000: Director Americas, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	7 to 8 June 2001: Director General for Trade Policy, Department of Trade and Industry
	19 to 27 June 2001: Director Americas, Trade Partners UK
	16 to 19 July: Director Americas, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	All visiting Ministers were accompanied by at least one official. In the case of the Prime Minister, the official delegation to Brazil comprised 24 persons.

Civil Servants (Retirement Ages)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Ben Bradshaw: The normal retirement age for all employees in the FCO and in the non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies for which it is responsible is 60. However, for each completed year of service in certain posts overseas (prior to 1972), the retiring age is reduced by 3 months, though not so as to reduce it below 55.
	Retirement on compulsory, flexible or approved early retirement terms applies to staff aged 50 or over.

Indonesia

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has collated about the number of civilians killed in Aceh, Indonesia, since the commencement of the current military operation on 2 May; and what representations his Department has made to the Indonesian Government concerning their cessation of that operation.

Ben Bradshaw: Precise figures for the number of deaths from violence in Aceh are not available, but an estimated 800 civilians have died during 2001 (up to early October). During a visit to Aceh on 1 October by EU Ambassadors based in Jakarta, the Deputy Chief of Police said that approximately 70 police had been killed, along with 30 military personnel and 100 members of the GAM (Free Aceh Movement).
	HMG has made it clear to all the parties concerned on numerous occasions that the only basis for a peaceful, durable settlement is through negotiation.
	I raised the issue with the Indonesian Authorities on 28 August and the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holms) raised it with President Megawati and others on 11 September.

Indonesia

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the use of British-made armoured vehicles by the North Sumatra Military Command, Bukit Barisan.

Ben Bradshaw: The Indonesian Government have told us that there are no Saladin armoured vehicles, or other British built equipment in Aceh. We are aware that an Indonesian magazine "Gatra", on 14 April 2001 showed a Saladin (not Saracen) patrolling the North Sumatra/Aceh border area, but on the North Sumatra side. Saladin armoured vehicles are 45 years old and are generally used for protected mobility of troops.

Indonesia

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage the Indonesian Government to invite UN experts on (a) extrajudicial executions, (b) torture, (c) arbitrary detentions, (d) the independence of judges and lawyers and (e) human rights defenders to visit Indonesia to carry out assessments on issues of concern.

Ben Bradshaw: It is British Government policy to encourage all Governments to co-operate with UN mechanisms including the special procedures appointed to investigate specific thematic issues such as extra judicial executions and torture. If one of the UN Special Rapporteurs thought that it would be appropriate to visit Indonesia, we would encourage the Indonesian Government to facilitate such a visit.
	We raise human right issues with the Indonesian authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union, at every appropriate opportunity.

Indonesia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of the human rights situation in Aceh and West Papua is being undertaken by the British Embassy in Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The British Embassy in Jakarta maintains regular contact with a wide range of NGOs, civil society, local government and parliament representatives to share information on human rights issues within Indonesia. In addition the Ambassador and his staff make regular visits to Aceh and West Papua, most recently in October 2001.
	The British Government remain concerned about a range of human rights issues in Indonesia and I discussed these with the Vice President and the Attorney-General when I visited Jakarta in August.

Angola

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for peace in Angola; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UN sanctions on the Unita forces in Angola; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development about the human consequences of the civil war in Angola.

Ben Bradshaw: The way to a lasting peace in Angola is through dialogue, which must include the broadest possible range of Angolans.
	The UN Monitoring Mechanism on Angolan Sanctions has just published its report (on 9 October). We are still studying its findings.
	My noble Friend Baroness Amos, the Minister responsible for Africa last met the Secretary of State for International Development on 12 September to discuss Angola. We remain concerned at the human consequences of the civil war, which include widespread suffering, violation of human rights and the exclusion of civil society from the political process. We continue to urge dialogue, involving all parties to the conflict, as an essential first step towards addressing these problems.

Afghanistan

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions UK representatives have had with the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: British officials maintain regular contact with the Northern Alliance through the Charge d'Affaires at the Afghan Embassy in London. Officials have also had a range of contacts with other members of the Northern Alliance including in Afghanistan and during visits by them to Europe.

Morocco

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the United Nations and the Government of Morocco concerning the holding of an independent referendum to allow the Saharwi people to decide their own future, including the option of independence.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK supported United Nations Security Council resolution 1359 that was passed unanimously on 29 June 2001. This reiterated full support for the ongoing efforts of MINURSO to implement the Settlement Plan and the agreements by the parties to hold a free, fair and impartial referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary General to invite all parties to meet directly, or through proximity talks under the auspices of his personal Envoy, James Baker, in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to this issue and we continue to encourage all parties to do so.
	We regularly discuss the issue of Western Sahara with the Government of Morocco, most recently during my visit to Morocco on 24 to 26 September.

International Army Fair

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visitors, and from which countries, were granted entry to the United Kingdom, under immigration law, to attend the International Army Fair held in London from 11 September.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not keep records of the number of visitors or their nationalities granted entry to the United Kingdom to attend specific events. To provide the information requested would require manual searches of records at overseas Posts and ports of entry, which could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Chechnya

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of the human rights situation in Chechnya is being undertaken by UK representatives; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: We remain very concerned about human rights in Chechnya although security concerns preclude travel there, officials in London and overseas monitor the human rights situation closely. Apart from media reports, UK representatives receive regular updates from the Council of Europe and the OSCE Assistance Group, and from a number of humanitarian relief agencies. In addition, the FCO is in frequent contact with human rights organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Russian NGO, Memorial. They all make an invaluable contribution to our assessment of the human rights situation in the republic.

Chagos Islands

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits to the Chagos Islands have been facilitated for the Ilois people by the High Commissioner; and if such visits include Diego Garcia.

Ben Bradshaw: The Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory has received a request to facilitate a visit by a party of Ilois to the outer islands of the Territory. This is still under consideration.

Burma

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Burma concerning human rights abuses and political freedoms.

Ben Bradshaw: We take every opportunity to register our concerns through our Embassy in Rangoon and visiting officials although our contacts with the Burmese regime are naturally limited. In addition we regularly make our views known through the EU and also the United Nations. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's public statement of 31 August welcomed the continued release of political prisoners and called for urgency to be injected into the process under way in Burma.

Visas (Subcontinent)

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the main reasons for refusal of applications for family visit visas in (a) Islamabad and (b) New Delhi.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministers have made no formal assessment. However, the Independent Monitor for entry clearance refusals without the right of appeal has a remit to review refusals of family visit visas up to 2 October 2000, when the right of appeal for this category of visitor was reintroduced. He will present his conclusions later this year in his annual report to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, who will lay a copy of the report in both Houses.

Settlement Visas

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for settlement visas were made by those wishing to live in same-sex relationships with UK citizens in each year since 1998; how many were granted; how many (a) applications and (b) appeals are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The total number of settlement applications received, issued and refused by those wishing to live in same-sex relationships for 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 are as follows:
	
		
			  Received Issued Refused 
		
		
			 1998 109 95 14 
			 1999 96 91 5 
			 2000 146 140 6 
			 2001 94 89 5 
		
	
	The 2001 figures are based on monthly statistical reports received from the 109 largest entry clearance posts up to June 2001. The remaining entry clearance posts submit information on an annual basis. To answer this question for all 164 posts could be done only at disproportionate costs.
	We have no record of any outstanding applications.
	We do not record separately how many appeals are outstanding. Manual searches would be required to obtain such information and could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Fundamentalist Paramilitary Groups

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the number of UK citizens involved with fundamentalist paramilitary groups in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Kashmir, (c) Pakistan (d) Chechnya, (e) Lebanon and (f) Palestinian Authority territories; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We have no accurate figures for the number of UK citizens who may be involved with terrorists or other such groups in the places named.

Terrorist Attacks (USA)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) NATO and (b) the European Union on the United Kingdom's response to the events in the USA on 11 September; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We are committed to pursuing concrete steps to counter terrorism in a number of international fora, including the UN, NATO and the European Union. As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons on 4 October 2001, Official Report, columns 671–75, he and the Foreign Secretary have been in intensive contact with foreign leaders from every part of the world over the past few weeks. The Prime Minister visited Berlin, Paris, New York and Washington on 19–21 September; Moscow, Islamabad and New Delhi on 4–6 October; and Oman and Cairo on 10–12 October; and the Foreign Secretary visited Jordan, Iran, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt on 24–27 September as part of the effort to build a strong international coalition against terrorism.
	We are also taking action in international institutions:
	UN Security Council resolution 1368 was adopted on 12 September. The Council unanimously expressed its readiness to take all necessary steps in response to the attacks. The resolution also stated that the Council would hold accountable those indirectly responsible for these acts—those who aid, support or harbour the perpetrators—as well as those directly responsible. On 28 September, the Council adopted resolution 1373, which contained a series of measures to tackle the roots of terrorism. In particular, it stated that all countries should target terrorist finances and ensure that no safe haven is provided to any known terrorist organisations.
	Also on 12 September, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) agreed that if the attack against the US was directed from abroad it should be regarded as an action covered by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Article 5 is the collective self-defence commitment at the core of NATO, under which the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them shall be considered an attack against them all. On 2 October the US briefed the NAC on the results of their investigations. Lord Robertson, the NATO Secretary General, concluded that it was now clear that the attack had been directed from overseas and that Article 5 was therefore now operational. This is the first time in the history of NATO that Article 5 has been invoked, and is the strongest possible signal of Allied solidarity in the face of the attacks on the US. NATO's North Atlantic Council has now agreed material assistance to the US, including the use of AWACS early warning aircraft.
	The Heads of State and Government of the European Union at the Special European Council on 21 September expressed their total support of the American people in the face of the deadly terrorist attacks. They agreed to co-operate with the US in bringing to justice and punishing the perpetrators, sponsors and accomplices of such barbaric acts. The Council also approved a concrete set of measures to combat terrorism, including enhancing police and judicial co-operation, developing international legal instruments, putting an end to the funding of terrorism and strengthening aviation security. The General Affairs Council on 8 October confirmed the EU's strong support for US and UK military action.
	We will continue our diplomatic effort in the coming weeks to strengthen international efforts against terrorism.

Terrorist Attacks (USA)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the role of the security services in (a) the United States of America, (b) the United Kingdom and (c) other members of the European Union in identifying potential terrorist attacks; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The hon. Member will be aware that it is long-standing Government policy not to comment on operational intelligence matters. However, while that policy is not going to change, it is no secret that we work closely with the US and other allies to counter the threat of terrorism, which is kept under constant review; where we have specific information, we act on it.

Terrorist Attacks (USA)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for international security of the recent atrocities in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Ben Bradshaw: What happened on 11 September was an act without parallel in the history of terrorism.
	The fight against terrorism needs to be a global one. As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons on 4 October 2001, Official Report, columns 671–75, we have been in intensive contact with foreign leaders from every part of the world over the past few weeks. What we have encountered is an unprecedented level of solidarity and commitment to work together. We are continuing our intensive diplomatic effort to build a strong international coalition against terrorism. We are taking action in the UN, G8, EU and NATO.
	The Prime Minister also stated on 4 October that, in the face of the evidence, our immediate objectives are clear. We must bring bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders to justice and eliminate the terrorist threat they pose. And we must ensure that Afghanistan ceases to harbour and sustain international terrorism. But we also have to continue our attempts to resolve conflicts, defuse tensions and work for peace in other troubled regions of the world.
	The military action we are taking with the US is targeted against places we know to be involved in the operation of terror or against the military apparatus of the Taliban. The military plan has been put together mindful of our determination to avoid civilian casualties.

Departmental Staff

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate total annual staff costs for his Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a national or regional distribution of staff. Almost all Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff within the UK are located in our offices in London or Hanslope Park. A very small number may at any time be on secondment to other Government Departments, Government agencies or private institutions around the UK.

London Weighting

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the total annual value of London weightings and London living allowances for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not pay any separate London weighting or London living allowance.

Correspondence

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what was, for each year since 1995, the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what was, for each year since 1995, the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords.

Jack Straw: The effective handling of correspondence and PQs is a issue to which I, and ministerial colleagues, attach great importance.
	General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures for 2000 were published on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324–28W and on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.
	On Parliamentary Questions, I refer to the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the then Foreign Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 29 March 2001, Official Report, column 743W.

Common Agricultural Policy

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) EU member states and (b) the accession countries about reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is in regular dialogue with her counterparts in the European Union and candidate countries on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. I frequently raise the importance of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy with European Union and other Governments, as do other members of the Government including the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
	Our goals are reduction of the costs of the Common Agricultural Policy and better delivery of policy outcomes. We want to reduce the overall burden of the Common Agricultural Policy, align European Union and world prices more closely, and target support measures on the rural economy and the environment. These are also important for our ambitions for a new World Trade Organisation round for enlargement of the European Union.
	There has been progress. In the 1980s spending on the Common Agricultural Policy was over 60 per cent. of European Community budget. In 2001 it will be around 45 per cent.
	As a result of the Agenda 2000 package agreed by Heads of State at the 1999 Berlin European Council, spending on the Common Agricultural Policy will decline in real terms for 2002. Mid-term reviews of the Common Agricultural Policy are scheduled for 2002–03. The Government's objective is to secure changes that benefit consumers, taxpayers, the rural economy, the farming community and the environment. There is increasing recognition within the European Union of the need for reform.

Sudan

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the application for an export licence for the supply of one Bedford refuelling tanker to Blue Bird Aviation Ltd. (Sudan).

Ben Bradshaw: The Government recently approved an application for a licence to export one Bedford refuelling tanker for Blue Bird Aviation Ltd. (Sudan). Although the tanker is on the Military List, it will be used to refuel light civilian aircraft at Khartoum airport, including those operated by UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the ICRC, all of which are working to alleviate the suffering in Sudan. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Sudan.

European Governance White Paper

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the publication of the European Commission's White Paper on European Governance.

Peter Hain: I welcome the publication of the White Paper. It is an important initiative in the effort to make the EU's institutions more efficient, effective, transparent and accountable. I particularly welcome the emphasis of the White Paper on practical ideas which can be implemented without the need for Treaty change. A copy of the White Paper has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Lord Ashcroft

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department received a letter from Lord Ashcroft and Carlisle Holdings regarding alleged remarks made by the Secretary of State for International Development at the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle in 1999; on what date his Department responded to the letter; if he will place in the Library copies of this correspondence; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave him on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 484W.

European Union

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he expects a draft constitution for the European Union produced by one of the Union's institutions to be brought to the attention of Her Majesty's Government before the next IGC.

Peter Hain: The Prime Minister said in his speech in Warsaw last year that
	"there is an important debate about a Constitution for Europe. In practice I suspect that, given the sheer diversity and complexity of the EU, its constitution, like the British constitution, will continue to be found in a number of different treaties, laws and precedents. It is perhaps easier for the British than for others to recognise that a constitutional debate must not necessarily end with a single, legally binding document called a Constitution for an entity as dynamic as the EU."
	The Government have suggested that there could be a clear political statement of principals. Others will no doubt make their own contributions to this debate, and we will look at each proposal on its merits.

Departmental Properties

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Denis MacShane: I list the projects, some contractually committed, and others planned to start (budget permitting), during financial years 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	I must caution however, that it is almost certain that due to changing priorities and budget availability, the timing of some of the planned projects may slip and that some may even have to be postponed indefinitely.
	A baseline capital budget of £32 million is available in each of these two financial years to fund the listed projects. In addition to this figure, and in accordance with an asset recycling agreement with the Treasury, the funding of many of the listed projects is dependent on the capital realised through the sale of existing properties.
	The list includes only projects valued at over £1 million. To include the smaller projects at our posts overseas would involve disproportionate cost. Budgeted expenditure has been included on the list only for those projects that are contractually committed. We have not provided budgeted expenditure for the remaining projects, as its disclosure could prejudice the outcome of competitive tendering.
	
		Estate strategy unit: contractually committed projects over £1 million
		
			  Post  Project  Background Current total estimated cost £K 
		
		
			 Accra Build new visa office Visa demand increase 3,330 
			 Beirut Fit out new leased office Present office unsatisfactory; relocation required 1,780 
			 Buenos Aires Residence—services renewal and consequential repairs Need 3,140 
			 Dar es Salaam New offices Present office unsatisfactory—security 7,200 
			 Lima New offices ingoing works Present office unsafe in earthquake zone 1,400 
			 Los Angeles Fit out new office Moving to smaller, more efficient offices 1,080 
			 Moscow Residence conversion of two wings to provide staff accommodation Spend to save 2,390 
			 Sofia Fit out leased office Former office unsatisfactory. Expansion—EU/NATO applicant 1,860 
			 Tirana Extension of office Expansion of mission 1,890 
			 Washington Office replacement windows Existing windows now 40+ years old and worn out 2,820 
			 Yerevan New offices Existing leased offices inadequate for permanent occupation 2,940 
			 Total   29,830 
		
	
	
		Estate strategy unit: contractually committed projects over £1 million—planned
		
			 Post Project Background Planned start 
		
		
			 Baku New leased office and residence ingoing work Expansion of the post FY 2001–02 
			 Bucharest New residence ingoing works Replacement of unsatisfactory leased residence FY 2001–02 
			 Cairo New visa office Replacement of structurally unsound and unsuitable building FY 2001–02 
			 Caracas Fitting out new office suite Existing building no longer suitable FY 2002–02 
			 Doha New compound—move to diplomatic enclave Replacement of three existing unsatisfactory offices and residence FY 2002–03 
			 Dubai Build six staff houses in compound Spend to save FY 2001–02 
			 Dublin Conversion and fitting out new residence Enabled sale of existing residence and valuable grounds FY 2001–02 
			 Dublin Build senior staff houses Spend to save FY 2002–03 
			 Islamabad New visa office Needed to handle large increase in visa demand FY 2002–03 
			 Istanbul Pera House major repairs Fire damage FY 2001–02 
			 Kampala Build new office Replacement of insecure 1960s building FY 2002–03 
			 Kiev Reconfigure office To accommodate expansion FY 2002–03 
			 Lagos Junior staff housing Spend to save FY 2002–03 
			 Madras Provide new offices in compound Visa demand increasing and replacement of unsound building FY 2002–03 
			 Nairobi Build new visa office including site purchase Visa demand increase FY 2002–03 
			 Rabat Purchase site and build new office Replacement of undersized 1970s leased building FY 2002–03 
			 St. Petersburg Convert top floor of office to residence Utilising surplus office space to enable all other staff to be housed in existing residential block FY 2002–03 
			 Tbilisi Fit out new office To replace unsatisfactory office in an hotel building FY 2002–03 
			 Tunis Residence refurbishment Essential renewal of building services FY 2002–03 
			 Vilnius Residence ingoings Expansion—EU/NATO applicant. New residence releases space for office expansion FY 2001–02

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

London Weighting

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the total value of London weightings and London living allowances for her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry consolidated London weighting and local pay additions into base pay in 1997. Since then, it has paid staff in London at a higher rate than equivalent staff in the National area through the use of separate pay ranges.

Departmental Properties

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by her Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by her Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Patricia Hewitt: The estimated Running costs for Department of Trade and Industry properties in the United Kingdom for the financial year 2001–02 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Area/m(54) Total running cost (£) Cost (£)/m(54) 
		
		
			 Nation
			 England 101,014.65 50,381,200.00 498.75 
			 Scotland 11,993.00 1,524,000.00 127.07 
			 Wales 3,359.00 211,000.00 62.82 
			 Northern Ireland 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			  
			 Total UK 116,366.65 52,116,200.00 447.86 
			 
			 English regions
			 North East 1,330.65 136,200.00 102.21 
			 North West 309.00 82,000.00 265.37 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 2,016.00 401,000.00 198.91 
			 East Midlands 213.00 54,000.00 253.52 
			 West Midlands 1,349.00 389,000.00 288.36 
			 East 1,316.00 220,000.00 167.17 
			 South East 701.00 249,000.00 355.21 
			 South West 190.00 13,000.00 68.42 
			 London 93,590.00 48,837,000.00 521.82 
			  
			 Total regions 101,014.65 50,381,200.00 498.75 
		
	
	Note:
	Total running costs exclude VAT

Departmental Properties

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department has two projects exceeding £1,000,000.
	The extension of the Conference Centre in 1 Victoria Street is forecast to cost £3,191,000. The expenditure is spread over three financial years.
	
		
			 Year £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 416,000 
			 2001–02 2,709,000 
			 2002–03 66,000

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by her Department, broken down by leases by the Department itself, its next step agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

Nigel Griffiths: This information is not held centrally and to obtain this information would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
	The PFI project to provide serviced accommodation for the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington involves a capital cost to the PFI contractor of £82,000,000.

Xinjiang-Shanghai Pipeline

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage the Chinese authorities to undertake social and environmental impact assessments in connection with the proposed west-east pipeline from Xinjiang to Shanghai.

Nigel Griffiths: We take advantage of every relevant Ministerial visit, both inward and outward, to encourage the Chinese Government to take the social and environmental aspects of any major project into account. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport highlighted this in connection with the proposed West-East pipeline project, to the Vice Chairmen of both the State Development and Planning Commission and State Economic and Trade Commission when he was in China in February.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy, will stress the importance of the issue when he visits China later this month.

Export Licences

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licence applications have taken (a) up to one month, (b) two to three months, (c) three to six months and (d) over six months to decide in each of the last five years.

Nigel Griffiths: On 1 March 1999 a new IT system named ELATE was introduced to process Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) applications in the DTI's Export Control Organisation (ECO). Data can therefore be given in the form requested from March 1999 and are included in the table. Prior to that date information on SIELs was not stored in a format which allows us to retrieve the data without incurring disproportionate cost.
	It would also entail disproportionate cost to provide the appropriate statistics for Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) applications.
	Details of licensing performance against published Government targets have been outlined in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls since 1997. These can be accessed via the Foreign Office web-site at www.fco.gov.uk.
	
		Breakdown of the number of SIELs issued in one, two to three, three to six and over six months(53)
		
			  Year Processed in: (working days) Number of SIELs Per cent. of SIELs 
		
		
			 1999(54) 0–20 5,077 65.7 
			  21–60 2,443 31.6 
			  61–120 197 2.5 
			  Over 120 9 0.1 
			 
			 2000(55) 0–20 6,342 59.9 
			  21–60 3,381 31.9 
			  61–120 607 5.7 
			  Over 120 259 2.4 
			 
			 2001(56) 0–20 4,722 60.0 
			  21–60 2,364 30.0 
			  61–120 484 6.2 
			  Over 120 299 3.8 
		
	
	(53) Figures include all cases—both those circulated and not circulated by DTI to our advisory departments.
	(54) 1 March to 31 December
	(55) 1 January to 31 December
	(56) 1 January to 26 September
	Note:
	In June 2000 a change in the criteria for circulating cases meant that nearly all cases would, from that point, be circulated. The figures given do not therefore match those in the Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls because figures given in those reports made a distinction between circulated and non-circulated cases.

Export Licences

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to ensure that advice and assistance given to exporters to (a) Pakistan and (b) China is consistent with the requirements of export licences; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: Trade Partners UK work in the United Kingdom and in overseas markets to offer appropriate advice to British exporters and investors seeking to do business. Trade Partners UK staff refer inquiries from companies about export licence requirements for all markets to the 'DTI's Export Control Organisation'. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the exporting company to ensure that any export it makes complies with export control legislation in force at the time of the export.

Office of Communications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated cost of setting up and running the shadow Ofcom is.

Douglas Alexander: A "shadow Ofcom" is not proposed, however, The Office of Communications Bill proposes to establish Ofcom to prepare to receive its regulatory functions at a later stage.

Employment Tribunals

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications were registered by the Employment Tribunal Service in 2000–01; how many of these cases were disposed of; in how many of these cases costs were awarded against (i) the applicant and (ii) the respondent; and what the average costs award was in each case.

Alan Johnson: The Employment Tribunals Service registered 130,408 applications in 2000–2001.
	During this period, a total of 92,938 cases were disposed of, with costs being awarded in 247 cases, of which 167 were awarded against the applicant and 80 were awarded against the respondent.
	The average cost award was £295.
	Source:
	Employment Tribunals Service

Airline Aid

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate competition between UK airlines, and between UK and overseas airlines, following recent state intervention to assist the airline industry.

Melanie Johnson: The Office of Fair Trading has the power to investigate any market in which it believes anti-competitive activity may be occurring as the independent competition authority charged with such powers.

Indonesia (Saladin Armoured Vehicles)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences for Indonesia for components and associated equipment for Saladin armoured vehicles have been (a) applied for, (b) granted and (c) rejected since May 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: Inquiries are being made and I shall respond to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Regulations (Consultation)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which new regulations issued by her Department since 1997 have been subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks.

Nigel Griffiths: The DTI has been responsible for over 500 regulations since May 1997, across the full range of its responsibilities, and records relating to these regulations are not held centrally, but by the management unit responsible for the policy area involved. The information requested could be obtained and collated only at disproportionate cost.

Local Shops

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to implement the recommendations in the recent Better Regulation Task Force report, 'Local Shops; A Progress report on Small Firms Regulation'.

Nigel Griffiths: We plan to publish a Government response to the recommendations made in this report during October. The response will be laid in the Library of the House.

Independent Company Law

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will consult on the recommendations made in the report of the independent company law review.

Melanie Johnson: The Government are studying carefully the recommendations of the Final Report of the independent Steering Group, which was published on 26 July. The report represents the results of three years' detailed work, and has been broadly welcomed. I am very grateful to all those who contributed to it.
	A further announcement will be made to Parliament in due course.

Broadband Provision

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on broadband provision throughout the UK in (a) 2001 to 2003 and (b) 2003 to 2006.

Douglas Alexander: Access to broadband technologies such as ADSL, cable or wireless is rising. Over the period 2001–06, other technologies, such as satellite, are expected to be made available, meaning that broadband services will be available throughout the UK.
	The Government are seeking to help make the broadband market extensive and competitive. I recently invited Regional Development Agencies and the devolved administrations to put forward plans for the £30 million fund designed to develop innovative schemes to extend broadband networks. The Government seek to help and facilitate broadband strategies at regional or devolved level wherever possible. In addition, the Government are investigating the scope for aggregated public sector demand, and are considering further policies in light of the recommendations of the Broadband Stakeholder Group.

Sakina Security Services Ltd.

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the activities of Sakina Security Services Ltd; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Department may use discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to conduct inquiries on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where it appears that there has been misconduct in relation to the affairs of a company.
	Any evidence which might justify an investigation is given full consideration by the department

Info 2000 Software Ltd.

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the action being taken concerning Info 2000 Software Ltd.

Melanie Johnson: Info 2000 Software Ltd. was dissolved on 15 February 2000.

Action against Terrorism

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce fast track procedures to close down companies believed to be involved in supporting terrorism at home and overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Existing provisions allow for the winding up of companies and I understand my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will be announcing shortly a number of steps including a package of financial measures to tackle terrorism.

Booking Agencies

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it was the intention for the Employment Business Regulations 2001 in relation to individual booking agents to apply to employment agencies in the entertainment industry.

Alan Johnson: The provisions of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001 will apply to entertainment agents, that is to businesses which provide services in the entertainment sector for the purpose of finding persons employment or of supplying employers with persons for employment by them.

Booking Agencies

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to outlaw rebooking clauses whereby an agent procures a number of bookings for an artist in a venue for a period of time.

Alan Johnson: The Government have no intention of outlawing rebooking clauses in contracts between employment agents, their clients and hirers.

Consumer Credit

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans she has to tighten the regulation of advertising relating to consumer credit;
	(2)  what proposals she has to update the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Melanie Johnson: I published a consultation paper "Tackling loan sharks—and more!" on 25 July outlining my plans for updating our consumer credit legislation. In carrying out this review our key objectives will be to develop a new consumer credit regime that:
	targets rogue traders
	reduces burdens on legitimate businesses
	reflects market changes on consumer credit
	provides timely and effective advice to consumers and greater transparency when they take out loans.
	Copies of the consultation paper are available in the Library of the House.

Dolphin Communications

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when officials from the Radiocommunications Agency met representatives of Dolphin Telecommunications Ltd. of Basingstoke to discuss television interference in the vicinity of their mast at Deptford, Wilshire; what advice the Agency gave to (a) local residents and (b) Dolphin Communications; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Officials from the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) of my Department and Dolphin Telecommunications Ltd. first discussed television interference affecting residents adjacent to Dolphin's mast at Deptford, Wiltshire on 23 February. Subsequently, the RA carried out a detailed investigation into the problem which established that the interference was due to the use of masthead amplifiers fitted to the affected TV installations. The mast head amplifiers were intended to improve reception from the Rowridge TV transmitter but were also inadvertently picking up signals from the Dolphin transmitter.
	RA tests showed that a suitable filter fitted between the amplifier and the TV aerial could resolve the interference and the affected residents were recommended to have such filters fitted to their TV installations. The RA established that Dolphin were operating within licence conditions. If any residents still have interference problems they should consult an aerial contractor for advice on fitting a suitable filter.

Timber Products

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it a legal requirement that timber products imported and sold in the United Kingdom should have an independent chain of custody certificate showing forest origin of timber.

Nigel Griffiths: There is currently neither a practicable system nor sufficient consensual support from all stakeholders for an independent chain of custody certificate scheme to be a workable proposition.
	The Government are actively investigating a range of options for intergovernmental agreements to combat illegal logging.
	For their own purchases the Government have introduced a policy that requires their buyers actively to seek to buy timber and wood products from sustainable and legal sources.

Regional Development Agencies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what autonomy is given to RDA boards to spend their own budgets on a local basis.

Alan Johnson: Presently RDAs spend in accordance with set national programmes. From 1 April 2002 these will be replaced by a single broad programme giving greater freedom, subject to RDAs meeting agreed outcome and output targets. It is for each RDA, in consultation with regional partners, to assess the local priorities within the region in the Regional Economic Strategy and the Corporate Plan.

Equal Pay (British Coal)

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the recent representations she has received about the equal pay claims of female canteen workers and cleaners against the former British Coal.

Patricia Hewitt: In the last month I have received in the region of 110 representations on this issue. These have come from Members of Parliament and private individuals.

Equal Pay (British Coal)

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many payments have been made and what is the total amount paid to settle the equal pay claims between female canteen workers and cleaners and British Coal.

Patricia Hewitt: To date we have made 1,256 payments totalling around £10.7 million. The total cost of settlement will be in the region of £14 million.

Supermarkets

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the supermarkets' voluntary code of practice toward suppliers in preventing monopoly practices.

Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is currently considering the Director General of Fair Trading's advice on a draft Code of Practice, recommended by the Competition Commission, to put relations between supermarkets and their suppliers on a clearer and more predictable basis.

Sub-Post Offices

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed in each of the first two quarters of the 2001–02 financial year.

Douglas Alexander: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that total net closure of post offices in the first quarter of the current financial year was 119 and that figures for the second quarter to end September are not yet available.

Enterprise Bill

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to publish an Enterprise Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The two White Papers "Productivity and Enterprise: A World Class Competition Regime" and "Productivity and Enterprise: Insolvency—A Second Chance", published on 31 July, set out the Government's proposals for a series of radical pro- enterprise reforms to competition and bankruptcy rules.
	The Government are committed to implementing these White Papers, and we have invited views on our proposals. Proposals for an Enterprise Bill were included in the Queen's speech in June of this year.

Phoenix Fund Grants

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Small Business Service is taking to promote the availability of Phoenix Fund grants in deprived areas.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service is taking a range of actions to promote the availability of Phoenix Fund grants in deprived areas, including targeted mailshots to organisations that may wish to apply, news release for local press, TV and radio and information about the Fund on its website www.sbs.gov.uk/phoenix
	A total of 668 applications have been received to date and 111 projects are under way. A further bidding round for support under the Fund for Community Development Financial Institutions is currently being held with a closing date of 26 October.

Devolved Administrations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document she gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (w) Scottish Parliament, (x) Welsh Assembly, (y) Northern Ireland Assembly and (z) House of Commons select committees.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Cerebral Palsy Sufferers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding streams are available to voluntary organisations providing conductive education to children with cerebral palsy.

Stephen Timms: Any voluntary organisation or group in England which is working with or seeking to support pupils with special educational needs can apply to the Department for funding through the Special Educational Needs Small Programme Fund. The Fund supports projects that are time limited to one year to a maximum of £30,000.

Language Qualifications

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if (a) GCSE, (b) A levels and (c) AS level qualifications are available in (i) Gujarati, (ii) Hindi, (iii) Somali and (iv) Urdu; which UK universities accept A levels or equivalent in these languages as satisfying admission criteria; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: GCSE and AS/A level qualifications are available in Gujarati and Urdu. Hindi and Somali are not available at GCSE and AS/A level. Universities are autonomous bodies and each university is responsible for its own admissions criteria. The Department does not hold a list of the admissions criteria for each university. Candidates are advised to contact universities of their choice to find out entry requirements for careers they wish to pursue in advance of starting an A level course.

Sixth Form Education

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to encourage more students to enter sixth form education; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We have set out our vision for post-16 learning in the recent White Paper "Schools Achieving Success". We want all young people to continue after the age of 16 in high quality learning opportunities which best meet their needs and potential. This may be in school, college or in the work based route. We have established the Learning and Skills Council to drive this forward and have put in place a number of measures which provide the support and incentives young people need to take up and succeed in learning. We are introducing the new Connexions Service to provide advice and guidance to young people on the full range of learning options open to them and to help them progress within their chosen learning environment. We are also addressing the financial barriers to participation through piloting the Education Maintenance Allowance Scheme; providing Discretionary Funding targeted at specific learner needs, and the Connexions Card, which offers discounts on transport and learning materials.

Primary School Pupils (Travel)

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary age pupils are obliged to travel more than three miles to school; and how many did so in the school year before key stage 1 and 2 classes were limited to 30.

Stephen Timms: My Department does not keep figures of primary school children obliged to travel more than three miles to school. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has provided the following figures for all school journey lengths from its National Travel Survey.
	
		Trips to school by length: age 5 to 10: 1998–2000 (latest years available)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Under 1 mile 58 
			 1 to under 2 miles 22 
			 2 to under 3 miles 7 
			 3 to under 5 miles 7 
			 5 miles and over 6 
		
	
	Legislation to limit the size of infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds to 30 or fewer came into force in September. The limit does not extend to key stage 2 classes. In implementing the limit we have made it clear to local education authorities that no child should have to travel an unreasonable distance to school because of the class size limit.

School/College Transport

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of education spending is taken up by home to school/college transport; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Home to school/college transport accounts for some 2.5 per cent. of education spending.

Teacher Training Students

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of teacher training students in England and Wales completed their courses successfully in each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Initial Teacher Training Performance Profiles, published by the Teacher Training Agency show the percentage of final year trainees at 1 December in England who gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Figures are only available for academic years 1996–97 to 1999–2000.
	
		Percentage of final year trainees awarded QTS in:
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 1996–97 87 
			 1997–98 87 
			 1998–99 89 
			 1999–2000 88 
		
	
	Note:
	1. The figures cover providers in England only.
	2. The numbers of final year trainees awarded QTS relate to final examination boards at the end of the academic year. QTS awards made after the November following a trainee's final year will not be included in these figures.
	Source:
	Teacher Training Agency, ITT Performance Profiles
	These figures do not take into account drop-out during earlier years of the course, which mainly applies to undergraduate trainees; nor do they include awards of qualified teacher status made after the November following a trainee's final year.
	For the figures for Wales, I refer the hon. Member to the Welsh National Assembly.

School Curriculum

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to review the 14 to 19 curriculum.

Ivan Lewis: On 5 September, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published the White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success" which makes it clear that we want to begin a debate about the best way to create a coherent phase for 14–19 education. The issues and our proposals will be set out in a consultation paper that will include:
	How to increase choice for young people from the age of 14, so that their individual aptitudes, abilities and preferences can be met;
	How to encourage all young people to stay in education and training beyond 16 and;
	How to ensure—and where desirable extend—breadth in the post-16 academic curriculum.

Ministerial Travel

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by Ministers in her Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) Ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non-commercial flights were on each occasion; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will list the official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in her Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, at column 823W.

Faith Schools

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding mechanism is for faith schools; and what the cost to public funds of such schools was in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Maintained schools having a religious character receive recurrent funding in accordance with sections 45 to 51 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 in the same way as other maintained schools. There may be slight variations in funding according to their status as voluntary or foundation schools, but such differences do not arise from their religious character as such. It is not possible to state the cost of maintaining such schools because they are not separately identified for funding purposes.

Special Educational Needs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children of compulsory school age were (a) statemented for special educational needs or (b) assessed for special educational needs for each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: Information on the number of children of compulsory school age (5–15 years) with a statement of special educational needs in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of children 
		
		
			 1996 208,204 
			 1997 215,909 
			 1998 221,334 
			 1999 231,312 
			 2000 234,615 
		
	
	The number of children (some of whom are not of compulsory school age) for whom a statement was made for the first time for the years for which figures are available is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of children 
		
		
			 1996 36,636 
			 1997 35,648 
			 1998 36,178 
			 1999 35,421 
			 2000 (57)— 
		
	
	(57) Not yet available
	The number of children of compulsory school age assessed for special educational needs is not collected centrally. However the total number of children assessed for special educational needs (some of whom are not of compulsory school age) is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of children 
		
		
			 1996 38,643 
			 1997 37,339 
			 1998 37,826 
			 1999 37,069 
			 2000 (58)— 
		
	
	(58) Not yet available

School Building Work

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were kept out of school at the beginning of the autumn term owing to uncompleted building work.

Stephen Timms: The Department does not collect this type of information. It is the responsibility of LEAs to set term dates and to ensure that schools must deliver a minimum of 380 half day sessions in the school year and that they must open for at least 190 days in each year. Under exceptional circumstances where school opening has been delayed for a short time, as a result of delayed building works or other urgent health and safety related grounds, we would expect LEAs to encourage schools to use training days to avoid defaulting on the number of sessions delivered. We expect LEAs and schools to programme building works in a way that minimises disruption; however, building work can still be delayed through unforeseen problems or inclement weather.

Maintained Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates she has made of the total sum of money raised by maintained schools from (a) parental contributions, (b) business sponsorship and (c) other sources in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: No information is held centrally regarding money raised by maintained schools from sources other than funding made available through local education authorities.

School Places

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates she has made of the number of pupils of compulsory school age who had (a) not been offered a school place and (b) not accepted any school place offered on the first day of the current school term.

Stephen Timms: My Department does not collect this information. It is for local authorities to ensure that a place is available for every child whose parents want one and that any children of compulsory school age attend school regularly.

State School Pupils

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of pupils attending state schools outside their own local education authority area in September.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Information on children educated in a local education authority area other than the one where they normally reside is only collected for those pupils with special educational needs.

School Sixth Forms

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of schools with sixth forms which have received no funding from their local education authority for the new sixth form curriculum in each of the last two years.

Ivan Lewis: No such estimate is available. Decisions on distribution were a matter for each local authority in the light of local priorities.

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have been awarded specialist status in each of the last five years in each category of specialists.

Stephen Timms: The total number of schools which have been granted Specialist Schools status in each of the last five years, in the four specialist areas, is given in the table.
	
		Number of schools which have been awarded specialist schools status in the last five years, by specialism
		
			  Status 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Arts College 6 11 12 28 34 
			 Sports College 11 15 11 30 34 
			 Language College 15 11 15 28 27 
			 Technology College 43 46 42 51 57

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of schools seeking specialist status which have been unable to raise sufficient funds for this purpose.

Stephen Timms: Our network of 685 specialist schools shows that applicant schools across the country, including those from rural and inner city areas, have raised the sponsorship required, but we are aware some schools find this more difficult than others. It would not be practicable to make an estimate of the number of schools that have been unable to raise the funds but we have taken steps to ensure all schools have reasonable opportunity to do so. In 1999, the sponsorship requirement was halved to £50,000 and my Department grant-aids the Technology Colleges and Youth Sport Trusts, to provide advice to schools about raising sponsorship and raise funds themselves to support applicant schools. In addition we will continue to keep the sponsorship criteria under review.

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have applied for specialist status in each category in (a) the last academic year and (b) the current academic year.

Stephen Timms: The total number of schools which applied for Specialist School designation for September 2000 and September 2001, in each of the four specialist areas, is given in the table.
	
		
			 Status September 2000 September 2001 
		
		
			 Arts College 72 115 
			 Sports College 41 55 
			 Language College 45 55 
			 Technology College 119 144 
			  
			 Total 277 369

Teaching Assistants

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will state the ratio of pupils to teaching assistants in (a) Key Stage One and (b) Key Stage Two in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: Information on the number of teaching assistants by Key Stage is not collected centrally. However, the average number of children per adult in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 classes with one teacher is shown in the table.
	
		Average number of children per adult(59)
		
			 Year Key Stage 1 Key Stage 2 
		
		
			 2001 15.5 19.8 
			 2000 17.2 21.7 
			 1999 17.6 22.5 
			 1998 17.9 22.9 
			 1997 18.4 23.1 
		
	
	(59) The number of children in classes divided by the total number of adults present at the time of the census
	The latest pupil:teacher ratio and class size data were published in a Statistical Volume 'Schools in England January 2001' on 28 September, copies of which are available from the Library, or alternatively can be accessed from the Department for Education and Skills statistical website, www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.

Education (Northern Ireland)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions her Department has had with the Northern Ireland Education Minister relating to (a) selective education and (b) school league tables.

Stephen Timms: My Department has not had any discussions with the Northern Ireland Education Minister in relation to (a) selective education and (b) school league tables.

General Teaching Council Registration

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the benefits of General Teaching Council registration which will be available to teachers who pay a registration fee but which will be withheld from those who do not.

Stephen Timms: The General Teaching Council (GTC) is the professional body for qualified teachers. Registration will be a requirement if a teacher wishes to be employed in a maintained school or non-maintained special school; those who are not registered will be unable to teach in these categories of school. The GTC is responsible for regulating the conduct of teachers, an important element in raising the profession's self esteem and standing with the general public and promoting the profile of teaching. The GTC also provides advice on a range of professional issues to Government and others. In framing advice, we expect it to consult its members, thus providing an opportunity for registered teachers to influence education policy development. The GTC's advice on teachers' professional development and workload has already proved valuable.

General Teaching Council Registration

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of teachers in maintained schools have paid the General Teaching Council registration fee.

Stephen Timms: The General Teaching Council (GTC) registration fee is not now to be payable until April 2002. The GTC is currently collecting the details from teachers of how they wish to pay the fee next year.

Grammar School Ballots

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received calling for the threshold for triggering a grammar school ballot to be lowered.

Stephen Timms: We have not had any recent representations calling for the threshold for triggering a grammar school ballot to be lowered.

Grammar School Ballots

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many petitions for grammar school ballots have been initiated in each of the last six school terms.

Stephen Timms: During the specified period, the Electoral Reform Services were requested to set petition thresholds as follows: seven in the autumn term 1999, two in the spring term 2000, and five in the autumn term 2000.

School Funding

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will bring forward proposals for a new system of financing schools in 2002–03.

Stephen Timms: As part of the review of local government funding we have set up two working groups, with local government and schools partners, to develop proposals for a new LEA and school funding system. The work we have done with these groups has shown that we need more time to get the formula right. We have therefore decided to implement reform in 2003–04 rather than 2002–03, allowing us to see the impact of all the changes we will be making to local authority finance, not just those which affect education.

Head Teachers (Threshold Application Training)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of head teachers in need of training to assess threshold applications.

Stephen Timms: Last year, all head teachers in England were given the opportunity to attend training courses, and almost 24,000 heads took up this training. This year we have made available training courses for an estimated 1,500 new and acting head teachers, LEA head teacher equivalents, for other members of the leadership group (where large numbers of threshold applications are expected), and for those existing heads who requested further training.

Head Teachers (Threshold Application Training)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many training seminars have been held in the last year funded by her Department to train head teachers who are new in their posts to assess threshold applications; and how many head teachers attended each one.

Stephen Timms: Training is ongoing. 60 training events are being held at 33 venues across England. 1,023 heads, heads of service, and other members of the leadership group have so far booked places. Numbers at each event are determined according to local need. Of those who have attended events so far, 98 per cent. have expressed satisfaction with the training received.

Head Teachers (Threshold Application Training)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what costs were incurred by her Department in connection with training courses for head teachers to improve their ability to assess threshold applications.

Stephen Timms: This information is commercial and in confidence.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases have been presented by the MoD police to the Crown Prosecution Service in connection with alleged breaches of byelaws at land (a) on and (b) close to RAF Menwith Hill in each year from 1980 to date; how many have been authorised for prosecution; and of those, in how many cases the prosecution was successful.

Harriet Harman: Ministry of Defence records show that the number of files submitted by the MOD police to the CPS in connection with alleged breaches of byelaws on RAF Menwith Hill during the period 1996–2001 was as follows:
	
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 1996 17 
			 1997 49 
			 1998 30 
			 1999 32 
			 2000 5 
			 2001(60) 7 
		
	
	(60) To date
	The Crown Prosecution Service did not exist before 1986 and figures cannot be provided for periods before 1996, as earlier records have been disposed of in accordance with Ministry of Defence police policy.
	Crown Prosecution Service case records are held by category of offence rather than by specific offence and it is not possible from the records to show separately in how many of these cases a prosecution proceeded or the result of the case. This information could be recovered only by examining individual cases files which are in storage, and the cost of such an exercise would be prohibitive.

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by the Law Officers' Department, broken down by those leased by the Department itself, its next steps agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

Harriet Harman: Neither the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, the Treasury Solicitor's Department nor the Serious Fraud Office has newly let premises in the last five years.
	The Crown Prosecution Service has, since 1996, acquired the use of additional premises on leasehold in 12 locations: Birmingham, Burnley, Carlisle, Derby, Harrogate, Holborn (London), Leamington Spa, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newport (Gwent), Northallerton, Rochdale and Shrewsbury. The total annual rent of these 12 locations is £1,095,434.
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has from February 2000 newly leased property in Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. The current rent is £233,300 per annum.

Departmental Properties

Joan Walley: To ask the Solicitor-General what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Harriet Harman: Neither the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, the Treasury Solicitor's Department nor the Serious Fraud Office has any major building or refurbishment plans in the current or the next financial year costing more than £1 million.
	The Crown Prosecution Service, is in the financial year 2001–02, refurbishing its offices at Workington, Carmarthen, Manchester, Portsmouth, Grimsby, Canterbury, Preston, Guildford and Leamington Spa. The total amount allocated to this project is £708,000. In addition, minor building work is being undertaken in 20 other locations at a total cost of £228,500. The projects in Portsmouth and Carmarthen are being carried out over two financial years. A total of £1.1 million has been identified as the total requirement to complete the second stage of each project during the financial year 2002–03.

Departmental Contracts

Joan Walley: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the top 10 companies to which her Department contracted out their construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months.

Harriet Harman: The properties occupied by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and the Treasury Solicitor's Department are maintained by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung.
	The following 10 companies have carried out construction and refurbishment works for the Crown Prosecution Service: Deedscan Limited; Farebother Engineering Services; G.H. Chambers and Sons; G.W. Interiors; Harold Palfreyman Limited; John Davies Interiors Limited; Rickland Limited; Sandell; Sykes and Son; and Thorndyke Limited.
	The following companies have carried out construction and refurbishment works in the last 12 months for the Serious Fraud Office: P. J. Bond Construction Limited; Specialist Computer Centres; Wymer Electricals Limited; and Mitie Maintenance Limited.

Bilking

Margaret Moran: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will estimate the cost of the legal services in prosecution of bilking at petrol stations in each of the last five years for (a) England and (b) Luton.

Harriet Harman: Crown Prosecution Service records are held in aggregate form and provide no information on the cost of proceedings in respect of particular offences. An estimate of expenditure on prosecutions for bilking, the offence of making off without payment, could be arrived at only by an examination of individual case files, and this would involve a disproportionate cost.

Christian Sweeting

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the handling by the criminal justice system of Mr. Christian Sweeting who was arrested on 16 April.

Harriet Harman: The conduct of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of Mr. Sweeting is as follows. On 16 April 2001, at 0220 hours, Mr. Sweeting was arrested after being found in possession of an air rifle in a public place. The police charged him with an offence, contrary to section 16A of the Firearms Act 1968, of possession of a firearm with intent to cause another to believe that unlawful violence would be used.
	Mr. Sweeting appeared before Torbay magistrates court later that morning. The police provided the Crown Prosecution Service with a file relating to the arrest of Mr. Sweeting. The Crown Prosecutor, in accordance with his duties under the code for Crown Prosecutors, determined that there was not a realistic prospect of a conviction in respect of the offence charged, and the charge was accordingly replaced with one under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986, using threatening behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
	Mr. Sweeting's case was adjourned until 15 May 2001, and the Crown Prosecutor requested further information from the police. Upon receipt of that information, the file was reviewed again, and the Crown Prosecutor decided that there was no realistic prospect of convicting Mr. Sweeting of the offence contrary to section 4A of the Public Order Act. After discussion with the police, it was decided that the case should, therefore, be discontinued, and formal discontinuance was effected by a letter of 14 May 2001.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows:
	Northern Ireland Civil Servants
	Senior Civil Servants—retire at 60 1
	Grade A and analogous—retire at 60 1
	Grade B1 and analogous—retire at 60 1
	Grade B2 and analogous—retire at 60 1
	Grade C and analogous—retire at 60 1
	Grade D1 and analogous—retire at 65
	Grade D2, temporary and analogous—retire at 65
	Northern Ireland Office Home Civil Servants
	Minimum retirement age 60 for all grades
	Maximum retirement age 70 (though exception can be made).
	1 The Department may, in exceptional cases, retain an officer, who would otherwise be required to retire at 60, where it is satisfied that it is in the overriding interest of the service to do so.
	With effect from 1 April 1996 new recruits at D1, D2 and analogous must retire at 60.

Terrorist Activities

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with Northern Ireland political parties regarding the implications of the war on terrorism on terrorist activities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Security in Northern Ireland is not a devolved matter, therefore no discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State and Northern Ireland political parties on the implications, if any, the international war on terrorism will have for terrorist activities in Northern Ireland.

Faith Schools

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what assessment he has made on the impact on religious intolerance in Northern Ireland of the separation of children of different faiths into faith schools;
	(2)  what percentage of the total number of children in Northern Ireland attend faith schools.

John Reid: Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

HM Inspector of Explosives

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons HM Inspector of Explosives did not include in his annual report statistics on prosecutions and convictions for offences committed under the Explosives Acts in 2000; and if he will publish such information in a consistent form for each year since 1993.

Jane Kennedy: I regret that information concerning prosecutions and convictions is not available. The processing of court statistics on the court proceedings database was suspended in April 1998. Court data are, therefore, not available for 1998, 1999 and 2000. I understand that work to capture missing data is at an advanced stage, but it will be some time before this information becomes available.

Departmental Contracts

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the top 10 companies to which his Department contracted out their construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: The Northern Ireland Office has contracted out construction and refurbishment work to only one company in the last 12 months.
	The company which carried out the work is Portview Construction Ltd.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long it takes foot and mouth blood samples to be processed at the Stormont Laboratory.

John Reid: Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Departmental Buildings

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Jane Kennedy: The Northern Ireland Office has no plans for any building work in this or the next financial year.
	The following refurbishment work has been scheduled:
	200102 financial year
	1. Refurbishment of 1,000m 2 of existing office accommodation at an approximate cost of 350K.
	2. Refurbishment of 1,600m 2 of new office accommodation at an approximate cost of 900K.
	3. Refurbishment of 465m 2 of new office accommodation at an approximate cost of 275K.
	4. Refurbishment of 420m 2 of office accommodation at an approximate cost of 250K.
	5. Refurbishment of 1,600m 2 of new office accommodation at an approximate cost of 700K.
	200203 financial year
	1. Some of the works listed may not be completed until this financial year.
	2. There are no new refurbishment projects scheduled to start in this financial year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council if he will list the pre-legislative scrutiny of Bills which has taken place since May 1997.

Robin Cook: Bills have been scrutinised in a number of ways, and by a variety of types of committee. Those draft Bills subject to parliamentary pre-legislative scrutiny are listed:
	
		Session 199798
		
			 Draft Bill Published  
		
		
			 Proposals on pension splitting on divorce (subsequently part of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill) June 1998 Considered by the Social Security Committee 
			 Draft Limited Liability Partnership Bill September 1998 Considered by the Trade and Industry Committee 
		
	
	
		Session 199899
		
			 Draft Bill Published  
		
		
			 Draft Financial Services and Markets Bill January 1999 Considered by a joint committee especially established for the purpose 
			 Draft Food Standards Bill January 1999 Considered by an ad hoc select committee 
			 Draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill March 1999 Considered by a joint committee especially established for the purpose 
			 Draft Freedom of Information Bill May 1999 Considered by the Select Committee on Public Administration, and an ad hoc Lords committee 
			 Draft Electronic Communications Bill July 1999 Trade and Industry Committee 
		
	
	
		Session 19992000
		
			 Draft Bill Published  
		
		
			 Draft Regulatory Reform Bill April 2000 Commons Deregulation Committee; Lords Delegated Powers and Deregulation Committee (both were also informally consulted on earlier drafts of the Bill) 
			 Water Bill November 2000 Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs 
		
	
	
		Session 200001
		
			 Draft Bill Published  
		
		
			 Export Control and Non Proliferation Bill March 2001 Quadripartite Committee (Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Development and Trade and Industry); Lords Delegated Powers and Deregulation Committee

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council if he will introduce proposals to enable Parliament to subject all bills to pre-legislative scrutiny.

Robin Cook: We have published more bills in draft since 1997, allowing greater scrutiny. This has clearly been beneficial and has wide support in the House. The Modernisation Committee will look at the legislative process as a whole. I see the attraction of routine pre-legislative scrutiny, but as recent events show it may be sometimes necessary to introduce emergency legislation without such scrutiny.

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council what discussions he has had on putting future pre-legislative scrutiny on the internet in order to facilitate public interaction in the pre-legislative process; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: I support measures to make Parliament more accessible to the public and I am keen to facilitate interaction between Parliament and the public. We have made efforts to publish bills in draft so that they can be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny, which in itself allows greater public involvement in the legislative process. New technology has the potential to assist in this and I welcome the fact that both Parliament and Government routinely publish material on the internet.

Summer Recess

Norman Baker: To ask the President of the Council what proposals he plans to bring forward to improve scrutiny of the Executive during the annual summer recess.

Robin Cook: All select committees have the power to meet while the House is adjourned. The Government ensured that the House had the opportunity to establish departmental select committees by the time Parliament rose before the summer in order to ensure that the business of scrutinising government could get under way as swiftly as possible. If the Government had not given priority to this objective, the committees would not have been able to start their work until October.
	In addition, the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons is undertaking an inquiry into how the operation and activity of select committees might be made more effective. I look forward to contributions from all Members during the committee's deliberations, and I note the hon. Gentleman's concern.

Select Committees

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council how many representations he has had from hon. Members on the future of Select Committees in the last six months.

Robin Cook: I have received some twenty-three queries from hon. Members, and an additional five queries made by hon. Members on behalf of their constituents.

Select Committees

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council when he intends to bring forward proposals to change the method of election to select committees.

Robin Cook: The Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons is considering this matter in its current inquiry.

Ministerial Consultation

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council what discussions he has had with the shadow Leader of the House since his appointment; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: Routine exchanges continue with the Shadow Leader of the House as they have with his predecessor.

WALES

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords.

Paul Murphy: The effective handling of correspondence and parliamentary questions is an issue to which I attach great importance. While information is not available in the detail requested, general information on the volumes of correspondence received across Government, and on overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures covering Wales Office performance in 1999 and 2000 were published in the Official Report on 6 April 2001, columns 32428W. Available information for earlier years can be found in annual departmental reports of the Welsh Office.
	Information about the time taken to process Welsh Office parliamentary questions is not available. However, I have placed in the Library the performance of the Wales Office since its establishment on 1 July 1999.

Foot and Mouth

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary with regard to aid to tourism in Wales after the effects of foot and mouth.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including measures to alleviate the impact of this year's outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
	The Government, in partnership with the Assembly, British Tourist Authority and Wales Tourist Board, are taking every opportunity to promote tourism in the UK. The British Travel Authority has launched a 14 million advertising campaign, aimed at persuading tourists frightened by foot and mouth disease to come to Britain.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying Ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Records of overseas visits are available only for the period since the Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999. Details are as follows:
	
		
			 Date Destination and purpose Participants 
		
		
			 78 December 1999 BrusselsRaising awareness of the role of Wales in the European Community Secretary of State 1 Senior Civil Service 
			   2 Grade 7 
			   1 Special Adviser 
			
			 30 March to 2 April 2000 DublinMeeting with Taioseach and other Ministers Secretary of State 
			   1 Senior Civil Service 
			   1 Grade 7 
			   1 Special Adviser 
			
			 1920 September 2000 BrusselsMeetings with EU Commissioner, members of Committee for the Regions and UK Permanent Representative. Also attended official opening of the National Assembly Brussels office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State 1 HEO(D) 
			   1 Special Adviser 
			
			 1921 October 2000 BrugesBelgo/British Bilateral Conference Secretary of State 
			   1 Senior Civil Service 
			   2 Grade 7 
			   1 Special Adviser 
			
			 29 October to 1 November 2000 Madrid, Barcelona and ValenciaPolycentric Europe Conference on regional government in Europe Secretary of State 2 Senior Civil Service 
			   1 Grade 7 
			   1 Special Adviser 
			
			 2628 February 2001 BrusselsBilateral visit Secretary of State 
			   1 Senior Civil Service 
			   1 Grade 7 
			   1 Special Adviser 
		
	
	It is not practicable separately to identify the costs of these visits.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Christopher Leslie: The refurbishment programme, either currently under way or agreed to, for my Department for 200102 and 200203 are as listed. The table excludes projects that are either still being planned or are awaiting financial approval to proceed.
	
		 million 
		
			 Project title Period of project 200102 Period of project 200203 Cost of project 
		
		
			 Ripley and Kirkland buildings; part of project to refurbish 22 Whitehall, London SW1 17.5 5.1 22.6 
			 Government Offices (GO) East; relocation 0.5 0.8 1.3 
			 National Crises Management Centre 0.2 1.2 1.4 
			 67 Tufton Street, London SW1  1.4 1.4 
		
	
	Individual projects with a total value of under 1 million are excluded from the table. Figures exclude VAT, fees and the provision of general IT/office equipment.

Devolved Administrations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees.

Barbara Roche: General advice on attendance of UK Ministers and officials at Committees of the Devolved legislatures has been published under the Cabinet Office's series of Devolution Guidance Notes (available at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/constitution/devolution/ guidance/dgn12.htm.
	The guidance applies equally to invitations from Committees of the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly.
	The Government's aim is to respond promptly and courteously to such requests for information as they are received. The precise nature of requests could vary widely. The nature of the information provided in response will be judged subject to criteria as set out in the Devolution Guidance Note.
	Requests are also assessed on a case-by-case basis under the terms of any relevant statutory provisions and under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (available at www.cfoi.org.uk/coptext.html), which also covers information requested by House of Commons Select Committees.

Regional Government

Graham Allen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date he plans to issue a White Paper on Elected Regional Government.

John Prescott: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W.

Duchy of Lancaster Tenants

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is towards farm improvement schemes proposed by Duchy of Lancaster tenants with farm business tenancies.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply 
	by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
	Duchy policy is to look at each proposal on its own merits and if considered reasonable and viable for both the tenant and the Duchy the necessary consent would be granted. In assessing a proposal, due regard is given to the scale and nature of the improvements as well as the length of the tenancy, whether a farm business tenancy or Agricultural Holding Act tenancy.

Duchy of Lancaster Tenants

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures have been taken to assist Duchy of Lancaster tenants whose businesses have been affected by the economic impact of foot and mouth disease.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply 
	by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
	There have been no cases of foot and mouth on any of the Duchy Estates although one farm in Whitewell was culled owing to a 'dangerous contact'. Form D Notices restricting animal movements have affected a number of Duchy tenants. The Duchy has maintained a close watch on tenants who are considered to be vulnerable throughout the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Duchy officials are always available to talk and discuss a tenant's concerns on a confidential basis.
	The Duchy of Lancaster maintains a policy of sympathetic treatment of any tenant who is in genuine difficulty owing to external circumstances beyond their control and adversely affecting their business. Each individual case is looked at on its own merits and circumstances. Measures that have been taken include rental reduction, rebates and deferrals. The Duchy is also assisting some tenants financially who have chosen to take early retirement rather than continue within the agricultural industry.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was, for each year since 1995, 
	(1)  the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords;
	(2)  the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The prompt and efficient handling of correspondence and parliamentary questions is an issue to which I, and ministerial colleagues, attach great importance.
	General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published regularly. The most recent figures, for 2000, were published by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, Marjorie Mowlam, in her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Watts) on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 32428W and in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Geraint Davies) on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 45456W. On parliamentary questions, the information requested is not held in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

London Weighting

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the total annual value of London weightings and London living allowances for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Since 1996, Departments and agencies have had responsibility for setting the level of pay for their staff. The Cabinet Office, the Central Office of Information, the Government Car and Despatch Agency, the Equal Opportunities Commission, and the Government Offices all operate their own pay systems.
	The Cabinet Office consolidated London weighting into basic pay in 1997. At that time its value was 1,776.
	The Central Office of Information consolidated London weighting into basic pay in 1999. At that time its value was 1,912.
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency pays non-industrial staff working in London an allowance of 1,776 p.a. Industrial staff working in London had the 1,776 allowance consolidated into basic pay in 2001.
	The Equal Opportunities Commission pays each person working in London an allowance of 1,914 p.a.
	Staff working in the Government Office for London had London weighting consolidated into basic pay in 1997. At that time its value was 1,776 p.a.

Ministerial Travel

Alex Salmond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by Ministers in his Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) Ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non-commercial flights were on each occasion; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (A) civil servants and (B) special advisers accompanying Ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, at column 824W.

Departmental Staff

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what proportion of each Civil Service grade in his Department is located in each region and nation of the UK; what the average salary is for each grade; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The total numbers and proportions of staff respectively in each Civil Service grade and region in the Cabinet Office and its agencies at 1 April 2000 (the most recent statistics available) were as set out in the tables.
	
		Distribution of staff by grade at 1 April 2000
		
			  Cabinet Office Civil Service College Parliamentary Counsel Government Car and Despatch Agency Security Facilities Division(61) Total 
		
		
			 All grades   
			 Number 1,316 242 47 228 149 1,982 
			 Percentage 66 12 2 12 8 100 
			 SCS level   
			 Number 110 3 35 1  149 
			 Percentage 6 0 2 0  8 
			 Level 6/7   
			 Number 209 85 2 3  298 
			 Percentage 11 4 0 0  15 
			 SEO/HEO level   
			 Number 287 16 1 7  311 
			 Percentage 14 1 0 0  16 
			 EO level   
			 Number 293 42 5 9  348 
			 Percentage 15 2 0 0  18 
			 AO/AA level   
			 Number 418 96 5 11  530 
			 Percentage 21 5 0 1  27 
			  Industrial/Other grades 
			 Number197 80 277 
			 Percentage10 4 14 
		
	
	(61) Security Facilities Division figures and total include 69 non-industrial staff for whom statistics by grade are not available.
	
		Distribution of staff by region at 1 April 2000
		
			  Cabinet Office Civil Service College Parliamentary Counsel Government Car and Despatch Agency Security Facilities Division(62) Total(62) 
		
		
			 All Regions   
			 Number 1,316 242 47 228 149 1,982 
			 Percentage 66 12 2 12 8 100 
			 London   
			 Number 1,253 11 47 212  1,523 
			 Percentage 63 1 2 11  77 
			 South-east   
			 Number 47 228   - 275 
			 Percentage 2 1214 
			 Eastern   
			 Number 16 319 
			 Percentage 1 01 
			 West Midlands   
			 Number1  1 
			 Percentage0  0 
			  Yorkshire and Humberside 
			 Number3  3 
			 Percentage0  0 
			 Wales   
			 Number12  12 
			 Percentage1  1 
		
	
	(62) Total includes 149 Security Facilities Division staff for whom statistics by region are not available
	Since 1996, Departments and agencies have had responsibility for setting the level of pay for their staff. The current constituent bodies of the Cabinet Office, including the Central Office of Information, the Government Car and Despatch Agency, the Equal Opportunities Commission, and the Government Offices all operate their own pay systems.
	Up-to-date information is available from payroll records, taking account of negotiated pay increases for 2000. This information also reflects the machinery of government changes that took place after the June 2001 general election, which included the transfer to the Cabinet Office of responsibility for the Government Offices for the Regions. Current average salaries, by grade, for the Cabinet Office constituent bodies are:
	
		
			  Cabinet Office Central Office of Information Government Car and Despatch Agency Equal Opportunities Commission Government Offices for the Regions(63)  
		
		
			 SCS level 67,330 83,620 62,000 53,748  
			 Level 6/7 38,263 39,065 48,224 36,281 39,282 
			 SEO/HEO level 25,030 28,198 29,000 22,583 24,213 
			 EO level 19,035 19,533 24,826 17,078 17,145 
			 AO/AA level 14,287 13,611 16,512 12,323 12,712 
			 Industrial/Other grades 28,402  19,459   
		
	
	(63) Security Facilities Division figures and total include 69 non-industrial staff for whom statistics by grade are not available.

Departmental Staff

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the number of staff employed by his Department by region and nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The total number of staff employed in the Cabinet Office and its agencies in each region and nation of the UK at 1 April 2000 (the most recent statistics available) was 1,980. The breakdown by geographical area is as shown in the table. This shows analogous distributions for the whole of the Civil Service at that date and is drawn from the publication Civil Service Statistics 2000, issued on 31 August 2001.
	
		Regional distribution of staff as at 1 April 2000
		
			All staff (full-time equivalent)  
			  Government office region  
			  London South East Total London and South East South West West Midlands North West North East Merseyside 
		
		
			 Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 3,030 770 3,800 1,210 440 880 110 0 
			 Cabinet Office 1,520 270 1,800 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 1,300 520 1,820 330 530 620 320 200 
			 Customs and Excise 5,510 3,530 9,040 940 1,040 1,490 520 1,040 
			 Culture, Media and Sport 620 0 620 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ministry of Defence 8,640 22,620 31,260 22,770 8,010 1,320 490 840 
			 Education and Employment 6,850 2,340 9,190 2,360 2,830 3,480 2,500 960 
			 Environment, Transport and the Regions 4,350 870 5,220 1,760 790 730 370 80 
			 Health and Safety Executive/Commission 660 140 810 70 160 150 70 1,290 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 4,600 40 4,640 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Health 2,480 290 2,780 230 230 690 130 0 
			 HM Land Registry 780 510 1,300 1,500 630 470 660 500 
			 Home Office 6,990 1,180 8,170 250 740 400 80 960 
			 HM Prison Service 4,720 6,930 11,650 3,050 3,830 4,270 3,040 780 
			 Inland Revenue 8,370 6,370 14,750 4,000 4,080 7,920 7,640 3,840 
			 International Development 720 0 720 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Intervention Board 0 950 950 0 0 0 280 0 
			 Lord Chancellor's 5,490 1,070 6,560 400 710 750 130 320 
			 Office for National Statistics 730 640 1,380 0 0 100 0 540 
			 Ordnance Survey 20 1,420 1,450 50 40 40 20 10 
			 Registers of Scotland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Scottish Executive 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Social Security 9,100 5,780 14,890 5,060 6,840 15,660 9,780 3,810 
			 Trade and Industry 4,750 250 4,990 240 410 290 220 50 
			 Treasury 830 0 830 0 0 0 0 0 
			 National Assembly for Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Royal Mint 20 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other Departments 4,080 120 4,200 5,040 750 250 430 220 
			 All permanent staff 86,190 56,630 142,820 49,250 32,080 39,504 26,780 15,440 
			 All casual staff 1,790 1,090 2,990 610 615 815 800 330 
		
	
	
		All staff (full-time equivalent) 
		
			  Government office region  
			  Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands Eastern Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Unreported and Elsewhere All areas 
		
		
			 Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1,540 400 860 200 110 0 30 9,590 
			 Cabinet Office 0 0 20 10 0 0 150 1,980 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 600 380 300 350 0 0 0 5,450 
			 Customs and Excise 910 850 3,730 490 1,270 530 50 21,910 
			 Culture, Media and Sport 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 620 
			 Ministry of Defence 2,990 2,630 6,400 4,980 9,400 3,230 6,040 100,330 
			 Education and Employment 5,630 1,920 1,940 1,890 3,360 0 0 36,060 
			 Environment, Transport and the Regions 740 550 840 3,690 390 0 1,930 17,070 
			 Health and Safety Executive/  Commission 450 270 180 110 280 0 0 3,820 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 0 0 820 0 0 0 0 5,470 
			 Health 1,040 20 20 0 0 0 10 5,160 
			 HM Land Registry 430 850 820 590 0 0 0 7,750 
			 Home Office 400 40 610 460 240 130 50 12,550 
			 HM Prison Service 4,550 3,500 3,750 750 0 0 1,370 40,560 
			 Inland Revenue 5,240 4,010 3,510 3,870 6,090 1,400 10 66,330 
			 International Development 0 0 0 0 430 0 50 1,210 
			 Intervention Board 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,230 
			 Lord Chancellors 520 410 570 270 0 0 0 10,640 
			 Office for National Statistics 0 0 0 850 0 0 0 2,870 
			 Ordnance Survey 40 40 50 30 50 0 0 1,820 
			 Registers of Scotland 0 0 0 0 1,280 0 0 1,280 
			 Scottish Executive 0 0 0 0 10,340 0 500 10,850 
			 Social Security 7,590 3,500 3,350 3,880 9,160 10 10 83,530 
			 Trade and Industry 310 190 200 1,690 230 10 10 8,840 
			 Treasury 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 830 
			 National Assembly for Wales 0 0 0 2,570 0 0 0 2,570 
			 Royal Mint 0 0 0 1,020 0 0 0 1,030 
			 Other Departments 100 100 270 380 1,750 110 480 14,080 
			 All permanent staff 33,060 19,650 28,220 28,080 44,390 5,400 10,740 475,410 
			 All casual staff 680 340 550 950 1,090 40 1,600 11,300

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Christopher Leslie: Information on the normal retirement age and on compulsory early retirement or severance for my Department and for the executive agencies and public sector bodies for which it is responsible is as follows:
	The normal age of retirement for staff in all grades below the Senior Civil Service is 60 years. This is also the minimum age at which there can be retirement with full superannuation benefits. Retention beyond age 60 is possible subject to departmental needs and the continued health and efficiency of the individual member of staff.
	Staff in the most junior grades who satisfy these criteria may continue in service until they reach the age of 65 years. Others who have not completed 20 years' reckonable service at age 60 may continue in post until they reach the age of 65 or complete 20 years' service, whichever occurs first.
	Service beyond these limits to a maximum of 70 years is possible at management discretion. The Cabinet Office does not retain permanent employees beyond age 70 although it may be willing to consider a case in exceptional circumstances to meet an essential departmental need.
	The Senior Civil Service has a common compulsory retirement age of 60 years in all departments. Retention beyond this age may be allowed if in the public interest and subject to departmental needs and the continued health and efficiency of an individual.
	Government Office regional staff continue as members of their parent Departments and as such remain subject to their retirement policies in respect of age, compulsory early retirement or severance.
	Retirement policies in the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Government Car and Despatch Agency and the Central Office of Information closely follow the Cabinet Office model, with analogous discretions allowing for extensions of service.
	As a pre-redundancy measure volunteers may be offered retirement on compulsory terms to avoid compulsory redundancy procedures. Staff may also be retired on compulsory early retirement or severance terms on grounds of structure, and on compulsory early retirement terms on grounds of limited efficiency. Early retirement applies to staff aged 50 or over; early severance applies to staff aged under 50.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Magistrates (Essex)

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people applied to be magistrates in the north Essex area in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: Figures are not available for the north Essex area on its own. However, for Essex as a whole the figures are: 199899160 applicants; 19992000225 applicants; 200001154 applicants.

Departmental Properties

Pete Wishart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Michael Wills: Buildings used, owned or rented by the Department fall into two categories: those managed by the Court Service and those managed centrally by the Department. The Court Service manages the estate of all of the Crown Courts, county courts, the Supreme Court estate and probate estate, the Tribunal buildings and also regional administration buildings. Magistrates' courthouses are owned or leased by the local paying authority on behalf of Magistrates Courts Committees.
	The running costs and average costs per square metre of Court Service buildings by nation are contained in Table 1 and the running costs and average costs per square metre by region are contained in Table 2.
	Properties managed centrally by the Department include central administration buildings and associated offices. The running costs and average costs per square metre of these buildings by nation are contained in Table 3 and the running costs and average costs per square metre by region are contained in Table 4.
	The estimate of the average cost per square metre for properties used by the Lord Chancellor's Department is contained in Table 5.
	
		Table 1: Running cost of Court Service buildings by nation
		
			 
			 Nation Cash Expenditure Cost per sq. metre 
		
		
			 England 198,795,765.55 267.59 
			 Wales 7,817,644.14 171.77 
			 Scotland 108,103.36 222.49 
			 Northern Ireland 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Running cost of Court Service buildings by region
		
			 
			  Cash Expenditure Cost per sq. metre 
		
		
			 English region   
			 East Midlands 8,734,161.88 257.14 
			 Eastern 13,749,700.07 249.58 
			 Greater London 76,764,257.36 331.10 
			 North East 6,817,304.27 195.10 
			 North West 24,874,647.12 224.66 
			 South East 22,638,385.67 249.06 
			 South West 14,255,109.91 256.66 
			 West Midlands 15,516,402.06 251.32 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 15,445,887.21 226.55 
			 Devolved nations   
			 Wales 7,817,644.14 171.77 
			 Scotland 108,103.36 222.49 
			 Northern Ireland 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Running costs for LCD by nation
		
			
			 Nation Cash Expenditure Cost per sq. metre 
		
		
			 England 16,834,052.00 372.81 
			 Wales 0.00 0.00 
			 Scotland 0.00 0.00 
			 Northern Ireland 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	
		Table 4: Running costs for LCD by region
		
			 
			  Cash Expenditure Cost per sq. metre 
		
		
			 English region   
			 East Midlands 0.00 0.00 
			 Eastern 0.00 0.00 
			 Greater London 16,550,947.51 380.70 
			 North East 64,060.00 163.59 
			 North West 114,958.78 291.11 
			 South East 0.00 0.00 
			 South West 104,085.28 131.66 
			 West Midlands 0.00 0.00 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	
		Table 5: Average running cost of the Lord Chancellor's Department per square metre
		
			   per sq. metre 
		
		
			 Whole estate 240.00

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by her Department, broken down by those leased by the Department itself, its next steps agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department has leased 34 additional locations over the past five years for various parts of the organisation and for varying lease terms. Five of the locations are occupied by the Department or its associated offices (the Legal Services Ombudsman's Office); 24 for its executive agencies (The Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office) and five for its NDPBs (CAFCASS and the Public Defender Service Offices). The creation of CAFCASS and the Public Defender Service offices prompted the acquisition of new properties; expansion of the organisation and/or rationalisation of the departmental estate drove the remaining acquisitions. Full details of the acquisitions are set out in the schedule.
	
		Lord Chancellor's Department property acquisitions 19972001
		
			  Property  Location  Occupier  Demise Annual rent ()  Lease commenced 
		
		
			  Department and associated offices 
			 Southside London LCD 3rd Floor (front) 454,850 July 1999 
			 Southside London LCD 3rd Floor (rear) 302,400 April 2000 
			 30 Millbank London LCD 5th Floor 195,160 February 2001 
			 Tower House Bristol LCD Part 13th Floor 22,889 May 2001 
			 Sunlight House Manchester LCD(64) Suite 303 101,007 August 2001 
			   
			  Executive agencies 
			 Lincoln Group Manager's Office Lincoln Court Service  6,250 February 1997 
			 Taylor House London Court Service(65)  775,000 July 1997 
			 Oldham County Court Oldham Court Service  198,144 September 1997 
			  London Court Service (OSSCSC)  145,732.50 November 1998 
			 Bangor Probate Registry Bangor Court Service  3,750 January 1998 
			 Sheffield Group Manager's Office Sheffield Court Service  46,500 January 1999 
			 First Avenue House London Court Service(66)  2,332,000 April 1999 
			 Nottingham Group Manager's Office Nottingham Court Service  30,160 June 1999 
			 Exeter Group Manager's Office Exeter Court Service  239,750 November 1999 
			 Cambridge County Court Cambridge Court Service  171,000 November 1999 
			 Uxbridge County Court Uxbridge Court Service  162,000 December 1999 
			 Newcastle Group Manager's Office Newcastle Court Service  37,940 January 2000 
			 Brighton Family Centre Brighton Court Service  176,000 March 2000 
			  Farringdon Court Service (IAA)  190,320 March 2000 
			  Hounslow Court Service (IAA)  100,035 March 2000 
			 Ashford County Court Ashford Court Service  25,875 June 2000 
			  Bromley Court Service (IAA)  3,000 July 2000 
			  Hounslow Court Service (IAA)  125,440 August 2000 
			  Glasgow Court Service (IAA)  206,624 September 2000 
			 Haverfordwest County Court Haverfordwest Court Service  32,095 October 2000(67) 
			 Manchester Combined Tribunals Manchester Court Service  56,550.50 March 2001 
			 Shrewsbury County Court Shrewsbury Court Service  47,000 June 2001 
			 Breams Buildings London Court Service (IAA)  1,961,224 July 2001 
			 Archway Tower(68) London Public Guardianship Office  884,000 April 2001 
			   
			  Non-departmental public bodies 
			 Palace Street London CAFCASS 6th Floor 57,720 April 2001(69) 
			 John Street North Liverpool Public Defenders Service (PDS)  (70)30,000 January 2001 
			 Albert Road Middlesbrough PDS  (71)36,425 February 2001 
			 Orchard Street Swansea PDS  (72)23,500 March 2001 
			 Priory House Birmingham PDS  12,000 April 2001 
		
	
	(64) Office of Legal Services Ombudsman
	(65) Immigration Appellate AuthorityIAA
	(66) Principle Registry of the Family Division
	(67) Minor occupier in other Government building
	(68) This lease was new to the Department but not new to Government
	(69) For six months as a sublease from MAFF
	(70) Rent free for six months
	(71) Rent free for nine months
	(72) Rent free for two years

London Weighting

Pete Wishart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will estimate the total value of London weightings and London living allowances for her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: London weighting was consolidated into basic pay on 30 September 1994, at which time it was valued at:
	Inner London: 1,776
	Intermediate London: 1,015
	Outer London: 736.
	A comparison between the national rate and the three London areas, based on pay range minima as at 1 August 2001, shows that on average staff in London receive more than staff in the regions as follows:
	Inner London: 2,636
	Intermediate London: 1,786
	Outer London: 1,473.
	As at 1 August 2001, the numbers of staff in the Department located in those London areas are as follows:
	Inner London: 3,829
	Intermediate London: 551.

Staff Costs

Pete Wishart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will estimate total staff costs for her Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The total staff costs for the Department are as follows (baselines for 2001):
	LCD Headquarters and Associated Offices: 34,504,837
	The Court Service: 189,310,000
	The Public Guardianship Office: 9,155,000
	Total: 232,969,837.

Civil Service

Pete Wishart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many and what proportion of each Civil Service grade in his Department is located in each region and nation of the UK; what the average salary is for each grade; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The number and proportion of staff in the Department is given in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Number and percentage of staff by grade level and region (as at 1 August 2001) -- Lord Chancellor's Department
		
			 Region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO and below 
		
		
			  Number of staff by grade and region 
			 London   
			 Headquarters staff(73) in LCD, the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office 2,950 70 286 791 701 1,102 
			
			  Court Service Circuits
			 South Eastern (London)(73) 625 2 9 58 198 358 
			 Supreme Court Group(73) 1,821 4 55 186 493 1,083 
			 South Eastern (Provincial) 1,546 0 7 136 242 1,161 
			 Midland and Oxford 1,331 1 6 125 190 1,009 
			 Northern 1,154 1 10 106 202 835 
			 North Eastern 1,225 1 10 107 199 908 
			 Western 888 1 5 74 154 654 
			 Wales and Chester 581 1 5 72 83 420 
			  
			 Total 12,121 81 393 1,655 2,462 7,530 
			
			  Percentage of staff by grade level and region 
			 London   
			 Headquarters staff(73) in LCD, the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office 24 86 73 48 28 15 
			
			 Court Service Circuits   
			 South Eastern (London)(73) 5 2 2 4 8 5 
			 Supreme Court Group(73) 15 5 14 11 20 14 
			 South Eastern (Provisional) 13 0 2 8 10 15 
			 Midland and Oxford 11 1 2 8 8 13 
			 Northern 10 1 3 6 8 11 
			 North Eastern 10 1 3 6 8 12 
			 Western 7 1 1 4 6 9 
			 Wales and Chester 5 1 1 4 3 6 
			  
			 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	(73) Staff mainly based in London
	The average salaries are as follows (as at 1 August 2001, following the 2001 pay review).
	
		 
		
			 LCD HQ and associated offices   Public Guardianship Office 
			 Pay band Average salary Pay range Average salary 
		
		
			 A 14,367 1 14,708 
			 B 16,513 2 15,562 
			 C 19,819 3 19,316 
			 D 25,143 4 23,921 
			 E 30,791 5 26,695 
			 F 40,285 6 31,360 
			 G 52,884 7 40,974 
			   8 53,980 
		
	
	
		Court Service HQ
		
			 Pay span National Outer London Intermed London Inner London 
		
		
			 1 11,939 13,712 13,872 13,805 
			 2 11,894 12,600 13,255 13,807 
			 3 13,876 15,012 15,518 15,672 
			 4 17,683 18,300 19,425 19,727 
			 5 20,096 21,058 23,214 23,350 
			 6 23,549 24,425 24,700 25,628 
			 7 28,898 29,548 30,429 31,588 
			 8 36,654  38,981 40,629 
			 9 42,805  43,522 49,639

Departmental Spending

Pete Wishart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total amount of spending by his Department was in each nation and region of the UK, in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of his Department's total spending this constitutes; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Contested Cases

Peter Lilley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  what the average delay was in hearing contested cases in (a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown courts in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what the average number of weeks was from committal to start of trial for defendants pleading not guilty from 1998 to date.

Michael Wills: I refer the right hon. Member to the table which provides the information requested.
	
		
			  Average waiting time in magistrates' courts between: charge and first listingfirst listing and completion Average waiting time in the Crown Court between committal and start of trial 
			  Days Days Weeks 
		
		
			 1998 (74)38 (74)45 18.4 
			 1999 38 45 18.6 
			 2000 38 46 19.6 
			 2001 (75)37 (75)43 (76)19.4 
		
	
	(74) In 1998, magistrates courts contested trial determined by an initial Not Guilty plea or no plea, 1999 and later years by the fact of a trial occurring.
	(75) Survey conducted in March.
	(76) January to June 2001.

Contested Cases

Peter Lilley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of (a) wholly contested and (b) partly contested cases are acquitted in (i) magistrates courts and (ii) Crown courts.

Michael Wills: In the calendar year 2000, 31 per cent. and 41.4 per cent. of wholly contested cases were acquitted in the magistrates courts and Crown court respectively. For the same period, the percentages of partly contested cases were 13 per cent. and 21.1 per cent. respectively. The table gives a breakdown of the figures for 1998, 1999 and 2000.
	
		Table showing the percentage of (a) wholly and (b) partly contested cases which were acquitted in (i) magistrates courts and (ii) Crown courts
		
			   Magistrates courts  Crown courts  
			  1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			  (a) Wholly contested cases  
			 Contests 62,858 57,639 52,077 18,874 19,116 18,099 
			 Acquittals 17,294 16,263 16,122 8,350 8,463 8,214 
			 Percentage 27.5 28.2 31.0 44.2 44.3 45.4 
			
			  (b) Partly contested cases  
			 Contests 4,298 4,262 3,882 1,641 1,338 1,378 
			 Acquittals 396 530 506 411 344 304 
			 Percentage 9.2 12.4 13.0 25.0 25.7 22.1 
			  (c) Total contests  
			 Contests 67,156 61,901 55,959 20,515 20,454 19,477 
			 Acquittals 17,690 16,793 16,628 8,761 8,807 8,518 
			 Percentage 26.3 27.1 29.7 42.7 43.1 43.7 
		
	
	Source:
	CPS Caseload Statistics

Either-way Cases

Peter Lilley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many either-way cases heard in magistrates courts were contested in each year since 1999.

Michael Wills: There were 23,022 either-way cases contested in the magistrates courts in 1999; 21,808 in 2000; and 10,471 between January and June 2001. The figures are for prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service onlyfigures for other prosecutors in the magistrates courts are not available.
	Source:
	CPS Caseload Statistics

Either-way Cases

Peter Lilley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many either-way defendants were elected for trial in the Crown court in each year since 1999.

Michael Wills: Figures specifically relating to either-way defendants are not collected. However, the table shows the number of Class 4 offence cases committed for trial to the Crown court in each year since 1999. These figures cover all triable either-way offences but do include an element of Class 4 indictable-only offences as well.
	
		Class 4 cases committed by magistrates courts to the Crown court
		
			  Receipts 
		
		
			 1999 61,155 
			 2000 58,300 
			 2001(77) 32,752 
		
	
	(77) January to June
	Note:
	These figures include both triable either-way and indictable-only offences

Departmental Expenditure

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total expenditure was on (a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers, (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/ photographers by his Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Contract Staff

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full time, (ii) part time and (iii) on a contract basis by his Department in each year since 1992.

Michael Wills: The numbers of special advisers and press officers employed by the Lord Chancellor's Department since 1992 are as follows:
	199297: no special advisers
	19982001: one special adviser
	199299: four full-time press officers
	200001: six full-time press officers.
	Press officers include the head of the information directorate. No press officers have been employed on a part-time or contract basis.

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Michael Wills: There are no new build or refurbishment projects for the HQ estate in the current year (excluding general fit out and maintenance work). There is however, one project due to start in the next financial year, this will be to refurbish Clive House in London. The contract is due to be let in May 2002, with works to be undertaken between November 2002 and November 2003. The budget for this refurbishment is 24 million, including works, fees and VAT, although this is being funded by the landlord under a private developer scheme.
	Within the Court Service and associated offices, building and refurbishment schemes planned for the current financial year are in table 1.
	The programme for 200203 has yet to be determined but schemes that will be carried forward from this financial year are listed.
	Financial support is also provided to local authorities who have procured Private Finance Initiative contracts for the delivery of new and refurbished magistrates courthouses. During the current year, six new courthouses (arising from two contracts signed in 19992000) have already, or will be, opened at Beverley (new build); Kidderminster (refurbishment); Worcester (new build). During 200203 the extensive refurbishment of Redditch Magistrates Court will be completed. The total capital investment by the private sector in these facilities is 48 million.
	The Department also provides funding to local authorities in the form of capital grant to undertake maintenance and necessary refurbishment works within magistrates courts. This funding is allocated to local authorities, so the Department does not undertake the works, nor are they directly benefited. The funds allocated in the current year for refurbishments in magistrates courts in England and Wales are in table 2.
	The capital allocations for 200203 have yet to be determined, however there is a further 427,000 allocated to support the schemes approved in 200102.
	
		Table 1
		
			   
		
		
			 Building schemes  
			 Probate Records Office PFI scheme 6,770 
			 Sheffield Combined Court Centre PFI scheme 73,200 
			 East Anglia PFI scheme 377,839 
			 Bristol Combined Court Centre 231,000 
			 Exeter Combined Court Centre PFI scheme 369,000 
			 Manchester Civil Justice Centre 100,000 
			 London County Court rationalisation 100,000 
			 Blackpool County Court 50,000 
			 Chester County Court 165,000 
			 Field House (Immigration Appellate Authority) 1,500,000 
			 Brighton County Court 470,000 
			   
			 Refurbishment schemes  
			 Nottingham Crown and County Court 500,000 
			 Worcester Crown Court (external Security Works) 100,000 
			 Manchester Crown Square 500,000 
			 Liverpool Combined Court Centre 500,000 
			 Royal Courts of Justice 750,000 
			 Snaresbrook Crown Court renovation 1,500,000 
			 Portsmouth Combined Court 700,000 
			 Warrington Combined Court 400,000 
			 Birmingham County Court (add. Courtrooms) 250,000 
			 Leeds Combined Court Centre (new entrance) 191,075 
			 Leeds Combined Court Centre (add. Courtrooms) 300,045 
			 Basildon Combined Court (roof repair) 250,000 
			 Kingston Crown Court (main concourse alterations) 40,000 
			 Preston Combined Court Centre 140,000 
			 York Probate Sub Registry 120,000 
			 Ipswich District Probate Registry 250,000 
			 Leicester Probate (relocation) 80,000 
		
	
	Building schemes to be carried forward from this financial year
	Sheffield Combined Court Centre PFI scheme
	East Anglia PFI scheme
	Bristol Combined Court Centre
	Exeter Combined Court Centre PFI scheme
	Manchester Civil Justice Centre
	London County Court rationalisation
	Blackpool County Court
	Refurbishment schemes to be carried forward from this financial year
	Manchester Crown Square
	Liverpool Combined Court Centre
	Snaresbrook Crown Court renovation
	Basildon Combined Court (roof repair)
	
		Table 2
		
			   
		
		
			 Wolverhampton (refurbish custody area) 241,500 
			 Bridgend (improvements to custody area) 83,200 
			 Port Talbot (refurb. office and public access) 5,380 
			 Brecon (improvements to custody area) 41,400 
			 Llaneli (improvements to custody area) 141,600 
			 Rochdale (improvements to secure area) 57,550 
			 Pentonville (convert waiting rooms) 57,500 
			 Cwmbran (construction of a new custody area) 345,000 
			 Cwmbran (upgrade building) 550,000 
			 Birkenhead (improvements to custody area) 143,800 
			 St. Helens (refurbish holding area) 32,200 
			 Liverpool (refurbish former warrant section) 286,649 
			 Tamworth (general refurbishment) 113,250 
			 Mold (general refurbishment) 104,495 
			 Bangor (general refurbishment) 83,938 
			 Caernarfon (general refurbishment) 107,237 
			 Llangefni (general refurbishment) 218,839 
			 Scunthorpe (refurbishment of 1st floor) 386,490 
			 Hexham (general refurbishment) 187,000 
			 Sunderland (refurbish of public area and counter) 37,090 
			 Spalding (roofing and refurbishment) 242,347 
			 Peterborough (refurbish custody area) 37,413 
			 Trowbridge (refurbishment of custody area) 44,700

Departmental Contracts

Joan Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the top 10 companies to which the Lord Chancellor's Department contracted out their construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months.

Michael Wills: There have been no contracts let for new construction or refurbishment within the HQ estate in the past 12 months. However, the 10 top companies used by the Court Service and associated offices are as follows:
	1. William Sapcote and Sons Ltd.
	2. David McLean Contractors Ltd.
	3. Parkeray Ltd.
	4. Walter Llewellyn and Sons Ltd.
	5. Mowlem South Wales
	6. Turner and Townsend Project Management Ltd.
	7. Bailey Maintenance Services
	8. Joinery, Construction Maintenance Ltd.
	9. Interface Contracts Ltd.
	10. EC Harris.

Disputes Resolution

David Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how her Department will report to Parliament on progress with the Government's commitment to use alternative dispute resolutions where possible in resolving their own disputes.

Rosie Winterton: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor intends to make an announcement at the beginning of the next financial year, and has asked Departments to collect the following information: the number of disputes that have been notified during the 12 month period from April 2001 to March 2002; the number of those disputes where alternative dispute resolution (ADR) was used or attempted; the number of disputes where litigation was started; and the number of disputes where an offer of ADR was rejected.

Access to Justice Act

David Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been achieved under the provisions of the Access to Justice Act 1999 in persuading suppliers of legal services to try mediation in appropriate cases in place of litigation.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Commission continues to support mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for both family and non-family disputes. The number of mediations has been increasing steadily, and there were 9,076 family mediations in the period April 2000 to March 2001. The Funding Code's decision-making guidance encourages the use of ADR, especially where it avoids lengthy, contested proceedings in court.
	The Legal Services Commission has worked with Mediation UK and other bodies to develop a quality standard for both family and community mediation services. The Mediation Quality Mark standard has been published for consultation. The closing date for responses is 2 November 2001.
	There is also a leaflet on ADR in the recently issued series of Community Legal Service information leaflets.

Act of Settlement

Paul Flynn: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701 with Articles 9 and 14 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Michael Wills: The Government do not consider that the Act of Settlement 1701 contravenes Articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Act does not, for example, interfere with a person's right to practise the religion of his or her choice. The Court of Human Rights has consistently held that it considers only the facts of a particular case and does not give judgment on hypothetical situations.

Judges' Lodgings

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress he is making in reviewing the use and cost of judges' lodgings; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The review will be taken forward in the context of relevant recommendations of Lord Justice Auld's report, which was published on 8 October, and in the light of the results of public consultation on its recommendations. In the meantime, the Lord Chancellor has decided to implement some administrative improvements in the lodgings network, including the use of more cost-effective transport, and to close the lodgings at Mold on the Wales and Chester Circuit. These decisions will save over 300,000 per year once implemented.

Lay Magistracy

Tim Boswell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on recruitment, retention and training and service obligations for the lay magistracy.

Michael Wills: In general there are no particular problems recruiting or retaining enough magistrates. Over 5,000 applied to be Justices last year. However, it is harder to recruit or retain people in some areas than in others and it is necessary to encourage people from all walks of life to apply. That is why my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor's officials are considering how to develop a national strategy that will encourage more people to apply from as wide a cross section of the community as possible. Advisory Committees try to be flexible to accommodate magistrates having difficulties and considering resigning, and the Lord Chancellor expects courts to try to accommodate Justices who may be seeking to combine public service with family or work commitments. The minimum requirement is for 26 half- day sittings, that being the minimum number of sittings to ensure magistrates keep their knowledge and skills current.
	Training is of course necessary to equip magistrates to discharge their responsibilities effectively. The amount of training required differs from person to person and depends on identified needs but there is a core syllabus delivered to all magistrates locally.

City Status Competition

Simon Burns: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the timetable for the competition to determine city status to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and when an announcement is expected on the names of the successful towns.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Telford (David Wright) on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 787W.

Magistrates Courts

Robert Key: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what financial and other assistance is available to people who would normally be summoned to appear before Salisbury magistrates but are instructed to travel to Chippenham court following the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: There is no assistance available which relates to the particular venue. Defence and private prosecution witnesses may be paid certain expenses of attendance, at the discretion of the court. Other prosecution witnesses, including the victim, are paid their reasonable expenses by the prosecuting authority. An acquitted defendant may be granted a defendant's costs order to cover any out of pocket expenses.
	The location of courthouses is a matter for the individual Magistrates Courts Committee. The committee will take account, among other things, of the requirements of the Human Rights Act, although nothing in that Act requires cases to be heard in a particular type of location. Other relevant legislation, for instance, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, may require the Magistrates Courts Committee to consider questions of accessibility and the best way of providing a high standard of facilities to the population of the committee area as a whole.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of her Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the normal retirement age for the Lord Chancellor's Department and its executive agencies is as follows:
	HEO equivalent and above (including Senior Civil Service): 60
	EO equivalent: 62
	AO equivalent and below: 65.
	However, staff can stay on above the normal retirement ages at management discretion, subject to business needs.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) House of Commons and (ii) House of Lords;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by her Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The effective handling of correspondence and PQs is an issue to which I, and ministerial colleagues, attach great importance.
	General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures for 2000 were published on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 32428W and on 19 July 2001,  Official Report columns 45456W.
	The time limits for answering written parliamentary questions vary considerably. The calculation of an average response time would not, therefore, provide a reliable indication of the timeliness of answers. The table shows the percentage of written parliamentary questions tabled to this Department, in both Houses, which were answered within the time limits set since the 199696 session.
	
		Percentage 
		
			 Session PQs answered within target 
		
		
			 199596 98 
			 199697 95 
			 199798 97 
			 199999 96 
			 19992001 98 
			 200001 97 
			 200102 97 
		
	
	The total number of parliamentary questions, in both Houses, tabled to this Department since the Parliamentary session 199596 are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Session Number of PQs 
		
		
			 199596 701 
			 199697 350 
			 199798 1,357 
			 199899 925 
			 19992000 837 
			 200001 402 
			 200102 (to date) 154

Criminal Courts Review

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will publish the report of Lord Justice Auld relating to the court and criminal justice system.

Michael Wills: Sir Robin Auld's report on the Criminal Courts Review was published on 8 October. The Government are grateful to Sir Robin for his very substantial and important review of the criminal courts at every level. The Government will seek views from the public and from those working in the criminal justice system so as to gain a broad consensus for effective reform. The period for comment ends on 31 January 2002. In the light of those comments, the Government hope to make early decisions on whether to adopt the Recommendations, and to announce them in a White Paper. The full report of the review has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and is on the Criminal Courts Review website: http://www.criminal-courts-review.org.uk, and the CJS website at www.criminal-justice-system.gov.uk.

HEALTH

Beta Interferon

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely annual additional cost of prescribing beta interferon to the same percentage of MS patients as the EU average.

Hazel Blears: We do not hold sufficiently robust information on the public funding of beta interferon treatment in other European Union countries to make such an estimate.

Beta Interferon

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make his decision on the provision of beta interferon to MS patients.

Hazel Blears: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Appraisal Committee further considered the evidence on the use of beta interferon and glatiramer acetate for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers on 25 September 2001. NICE has subsequently issued a provisional appraisal determination (PAD) to interested parties for comment.
	The institute has stated that, to allow sufficient time to take proper account of the extensive comments received on the PAD, it now intends to issue the final appraisal determination to consultees towards the end of October this year.

Rural Minds and Diverse Minds Programmes

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the funding of the rural minds and diverse minds programmes.

Jacqui Smith: The Department, through the section 64 General Scheme under the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, has funded both rural minds and diverse minds for the three years up to end of March 2000. The total amount was 225,960. There have been no further applications to fund these projects.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Hazel Blears: Information on the normal retirement age and on compulsory early retirement or severance for the Department and for the executive agencies and public sector bodies for which it is responsible is as follows:
	Regardless of grade or job title the normal age of retirement for all staff is age 60. Some staff who transferred into the Department from the national health service retained the right to retire on NHS terms at age of 65.

Hospital Waiting Times (Essex)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the most recent figures for the last three months on the total number of people waiting for in-patient treatment in the Mid Essex hospital trust area; and what the most recent figures are for the last two available quarters for out-patient treatment in Mid Essex.

John Hutton: The information requested is given in the tables.
	
		Total number of patients waiting for hospital in-patient treatment at Mid Essex hospital services national health service trust in:
		
			 Month Number 
		
		
			 June 2001 8,850 
			 July 2001 8,898 
			 August 2001 8,917 
		
	
	Source:
	KH07 quarterly return/monthly waiting times collection
	
		Total number of patients waiting 13 weeks or more for an out-patient appointment at Mid Essex hospital services national health service trust in
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Quarter 4 200001 (March 2001) 2,125 
			 Quarter 1 200102 (June 2001) 2,146 
		
	
	Source:
	QM08 quarterly return

Patient Security (Medical Devices)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken in (a) Middlesex and (b) the rest of England to tighten up procedures and security to prevent accidents or sabotage from objects being placed in tubes used in the conduct of operations and to protect patients.

John Hutton: The incident at Broomfield hospital, and others of a similar nature in other hospitals, are being investigated by the Essex police force. Once the findings of those investigations are available, procedures will be reviewed and, if appropriate, additional measures will be implemented.
	In the meantime the following actions have been taken:
	On 17 August 2001 advice was sent to chief executives of all national health service trusts (England) and chief executives of health authorities (England) reminding them of:
	the Medical Devices Agency Hazard Notice MD HN 2001(02) on the risk of blockages on anaesthetic breathing system components;
	to follow already established pre-employment personnel checks in existing guidance documents HSG(94)51 and strengthened and expanded in HSG(97)064;
	to review security arrangements, particularly operating theatres and intensive care units, with reference to the guidance in the NHS Security Manual.
	A further Hazard Notice HN 2001 (03) re-emphasising the above has been issued by the MDA in September.

Spinal Injuries

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people attended out-patient clinics at spinal injuries units in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally. We do, however, have some data on the incidence of spinal injury consultations for the national health service as a whole, as shown in the table.
	
		Finished consultant episodes (FCEs)(78) by main diagnosis NHS hospitals England 199596 to 19992000
		
			 Year Spinal cord injuries(78) 
		
		
			 199596 11,578 
			 199697 11,490 
			 199798 11,433 
			 199899 10,900 
			 19992000 11,071 
		
	
	(78) An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider.
	Notes:
	Data in this table are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data, except for 199899 and 19992000 which are ungrossed.
	The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within a year.
	The main diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.

Whittington Hospital

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the costs have been of preparing PFI bids for the Whittington hospital redevelopment.

John Hutton: The costs of preparing the private finance initiative bids for the Whittington hospital redevelopment, have so far been 545,000 of which 252,000 were in-house costs.

Eating Disorders

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department has issued in respect of the treatment of eating disorders.

Jacqui Smith: We embarked on a radical programme of modernisation to improve access to effective treatment and care, reduce unfair variation, raise standards, and provide quicker and more convenient services. The mental health National Service Framework published in 1998 draws attention to the needs of people with eating disorders in Standards two and three.
	The NSF implementation plan demands that health authorities have protocols for referral in place for those needing psychological therapies, and in February the Department published an evidence-based guideline to assist them. It includes coverage of eating disorders www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/treatmentguideline.
	We have commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to develop a guideline on eating disorders. It will cover primary and secondary care and children as well as adults. Information about this work is available on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.

Correspondence

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average response time has been for him to respond to letters from hon. Members in the last two months.

Hazel Blears: During the period of 23 May to 23 July 2001 the Department replied to 1,679 letters in an average of 15.01 days per case.

Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for West Derbyshire dated 25 July about the proposed closure of Staunton Harold hall.

Jacqui Smith: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 8 October 2001.

Nursing Staff

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) qualified and (b) unqualified nursing staff were working in the NHS in each year between 1990 and 2000 who were aged (i) under 25, (ii) 25 to 29, (iii) 30 to 34, (iv) 35 to 39, (v) 40 to 44, (vi) 45 to 49, (vii) 50 to 54, (viii) 55 to 59, (ix) 60 to 64, (x) 65 years plus and (xi) unknown.

John Hutton: Data showing the number of qualified and unqualified nursing staff working in the national health service in each year between 1990 and 2000, by age-band, are shown in the table.
	Age breakdowns for practice nurses are not available.
	
		NHS hospital and community health service (HCHS): nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by age band in England as at 30 September each year
		
			 Headcount  
			  All ages Up to 25 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64 65 and over Unknown 
		
		
			  Qualified  
			 1990 285,360 22,360 54,790 46,820 37,490 38,730 30,640 25,540 15,270 4,310 200 9,220 
			 1991 293,770 20,610 55,420 49,160 38,910 38,360 32,080 24,670 15,290 4,420 250 14,590 
			 1992 297,350 17,910 54,590 52,320 40,930 37,680 34,660 24,870 15,550 4,620 250 13,970 
			 1993 293,380 14,830 49,670 52,920 41,340 35,980 34,580 24,070 14,810 4,370 190 20,620 
			 1994 289,280 14,570 46,050 54,150 43,500 35,740 34,420 23,850 14,290 4,110 190 18,420 
			 1995 298,650 15,660 42,650 55,600 46,240 36,830 35,520 24,720 14,380 4,230 310 22,510 
			 1996 301,250 15,130 40,480 56,100 48,440 38,050 35,050 25,640 13,720 4,000 130 24,520 
			 1997 300,470 13,630 36,910 53,230 50,100 39,600 33,830 27,450 13,830 4,420 170 27,300 
			 1998 304,560 12,220 35,420 51,630 53,410 42,540 34,580 29,090 14,140 4,070 180 27,280 
			 1999 310,140 11,340 34,110 48,540 55,520 46,340 35,820 30,560 15,310 4,330 240 28,040 
			 2000 316,750 11,020 34,150 45,770 57,500 50,010 37,720 32,190 16,290 4,530 190 27,380 
			  
			  Unqualified 
			 1990 119,350 15,020 11,750 10,860 11,860 17,190 17,820 15,960 11,180 4,200 110 3,410 
			 1991 131,720 16,740 12,820 12,060 12,540 16,960 18,450 15,860 11,420 4,600 180 10,100 
			 1992 126,610 13,160 12,560 12,520 12,360 15,650 19,280 16,140 11,820 4,780 210 8,150 
			 1993 130,430 11,690 12,450 12,810 12,650 14,950 19,100 16,240 11,880 4,870 210 13,600 
			 1994 130,690 11,470 12,790 13,600 13,400 14,760 18,830 16,520 12,060 4,850 190 12,230 
			 1995 113,190 8,500 9,770 11,440 11,450 11,680 15,180 13,820 10,010 4,140 220 16,990 
			 1996 114,500 7,610 9,360 11,370 11,680 11,620 14,490 13,940 10,010 4,110 110 20,180 
			 1997 117,110 7,310 9,120 11,260 12,210 11,830 13,400 14,620 10,010 4,360 140 22,860 
			 1998 117,190 6,840 8,730 11,190 12,670 11,980 12,930 14,840 10,420 4,400 140 23,060 
			 1999 120,960 6,700 8,750 11,160 13,260 12,950 13,010 15,050 10,890 4,600 170 24,430 
			 2000 124,060 6,580 8,930 10,980 13,860 13,740 13,130 15,030 11,510 4,780 170 25,340 
		
	
	Notes:
	A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.
	Unqualified figures include 'other' nurses.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Owing to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

Parkside NHS Trust

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what investigation his Department has made into the risk of violence to health visitors in Parkside NHS trust as a result of implementing trust policy with regard to the use of the health visitor assessment tool;
	(2)  what plans he has to review the management capability at Parkside NHS trust following the report produced by Professor Sarah Cowley of Kings College, London into staff relations and managerial practice at the trust;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of Parkside NHS trust's use of a master patient index number on health visitor assessment tool records in respect of (a) client confidentiality and (b) compliance with the Data Protection Acts;
	(4)  what consultation there has been with health visitors' clients about how personal information was stored by Parkside NHS trust; and how the trust ensured that it complied with the Data Protection Acts;
	(5)  what advice was given to Parkside NHS trust on the impact of the Data Protection Acts on the collection of health visitors' clients' information in respect of client confidentiality; and what action was taken as a result of this advice;
	(6)  what consultation Parkside NHS trust has undertaken with health visitors' clients following the report produced by Professor Sarah Cowley of King's College, London into the use of a health visitor assessment tool;
	(7)  what assessment he has made of the supplementary report produced for the management of Parkside NHS trust by Professor Cowley about Parkside managerial practice; and what action he intends to take as a result;
	(8)  what response he has made to the report produced by Professor Sarah Cowley of King's College, London evaluating the Parkside NHS trust health visitor assessment tool;
	(9)  what assessment he has made of Parkside NHS trust's compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Acts in its recording of patients' information;
	(10)  if patient's confidentiality was broken by the use of the Parkside NHS trust health visitor assessment tool;
	(11)  what consultation Parkside NHS trust has undertaken with (a) health visitors and (b) health visitors' clients since the report produced by Professor Sarah Cowley of King's College, London into the use of a health visitor assessment tool.

Hazel Blears: A health needs assessment tool (HNAT) was developed by Parkside Health national health service trust for use by health visitors to assist in the prioritisation of workload. An initial stage of development included focus groups that included both health visitors and their clients, prior to its piloting with 452 clients.
	The HNAT does not require the recording of a client's name and address; instead it uses a master patient index number to link information gathered using this tool with the client's case notes, with which it is retained. No information from the HNAT is entered on Parkside Health NHS trust's electronic Community Information System. For a five-month period, a paper-based report which included master patient index numbers was compiled for monitoring purposes. In April 2000 this practice was identified locally as a potential breach of patient confidentiality and was discontinued immediately, and all documentation destroyed. All NHS trusts have been issued guidance relating to patient confidentiality and to the Data Protection Act 1998 and in upholding the Act are accountable to the Data Protection Registrar.
	Parkside Health NHS trust commissioned an independent evaluation of the HNAT from Professor Sarah Cowley of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College, London. Professor Cowley presented her findings to the trust and its staff on 15 March 2001. The trust established a working group of health visitors that informed the development of an action plan to address issues identified by Professor Cowley; the NHS London Regional Office is monitoring implementation of this action plan.
	As part of that action plan, Parkside NHS trust and its partner organisations are planning a conference for staff and clients that will explore the health visitor's role including needs assessment issues.
	Any specific evidence of poor management practice at an NHS trust not being resolved through local policies and procedures brought to the Department's attention would elicit prompt, appropriate action to remedy the situation. I have asked the NHS London Regional Office to follow up with Parkside Health NHS trust whether there are any identifiable issues within what I understand to be one of Professor Cowley's working papers rather than a formal report and to advise me whether such action is necessary.
	Following Professor Cowley's report, Parkside NHS trust wrote to all health visitor staff on 26 April 2001 indicating that HNAT was still in a developmental stage and that they may choose to use it as part of their assessment and prioritisation of client needs but are under no compulsion to do so.
	The trust has a policy on violence in the workplace that specifically addresses safety on home visits; this has recently been updated. There have been no reports made to the trust of violence connected with use of the HNAT; any such report would be taken seriously and investigated as required under trust policies.

Social Services Standard Spending Assessment

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in rank order for each local authority (a) the total standard spending assessment for social services and (b) the standard spending assessment for social services per head of population

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

PFI Pilot Projects

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what timescale he intends to take forward the three PFI pilot projects which include the contracting-out of the management of ancillary services.

John Hutton: The aim is to complete the evaluation of the three private finance initiative pilot projects before the end of the year.

Fibromyalgia

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received on fibromyalgia; and what provision exists for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to promote awareness and treatment of fibromyalgia.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has recently received representations from local branches of the Fibromyalgia Support Group requesting more research into the condition, and raised public awareness.
	The national health service provides a wide range of services to which people with fibromyalgia have access, and patients are seen within a wide range of hospital specialties. Health authorities and primary care trusts plan and arrange the services available to people in their care, as they are closest to the people they serve and so best placed to respond sensitively to their needs.
	The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fibromyalgia was launched in March, chaired by the noble Lady the Countess of Mar. This should help increase public awareness of the condition.

Special Advisers and Press Officers

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full time, (ii) part time and (iii) on a contract basis by his Department in each year since 1992.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is shown in the tables:
	
		Table 1: Special advisers(79)
		
			  (i) Full-time (ii) Part-time 
		
		
			 199293 1 1 
			 199394 1 0 
			 199495 1 0 
			 199596 1 0 
			 199697 2 0 
			 199798 2 0 
			 199899 2 0 
			 19992000 2 0 
			 200001 2 0 
		
	
	(79) All special advisers are employed by the Department on a contractual basis
	
		Table 2: Press officers(80)
		
			  (i) Full-time (ii) Part-time 
		
		
			 199293 14 0 
			 199394 14 0 
			 199495 14 0 
			 199596 17 0 
			 199697 17 0 
			 199798 15 0 
			 199899 15 0 
			 19992000 14 2 
			 200001 14 0 
		
	
	(80) There were no Press Officers employed by the Department on a contractual basis

London Weighting

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total value of London weightings and London living allowances for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Allowance name Total ()(81) 
		
		
			 London weighting 1,396,852 
			 Other London living allowances 145,245 
			  
			 Grand total 1,542,097 
		
	
	(81) The annual estimated value of these allowances
	Note:
	August 2001 payroll data

Antipsychotic Medication

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned in the last four years into prescribing of (a) traditional and (b) atypical antipsychotic medication to older people (i) in general, (ii) in care homes and (iii) in hospitals.

Jacqui Smith: The Department, through the health technology assessment (HTA) programme, has funded research to the value of over 1.4 million on antipsychotic medication in general. This includes a multi-centre randomised controlled trial on the cost utility of antipsychotics in severe schizophrenia, a systematic evaluation of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia and systematic reviews of (i) comparative studies of depot neuroleptic agents and (ii) studies of oral versus depot neuroleptic agents for patients with schizophrenia.
	The HTA programme has also undertaken a review for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the newer (atypical) antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of schizophrenia. This includes some reference to older people. NICE has started its appraisal and the appraisal committee will produce the provisional appraisal determination this month and final guidance is expected in March 2002.
	Through such measures as the National Service Framework for Older People and the Care Standards Act 2000, the Department has set out clear requirements for the proper management of medicines for older people. This includes specific reference to existing guidance on the appropriate prescribing of antipsychotic drugs and other medication for mental health problems.

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (a) how many appeals were lodged against decisions under continuing care criteria, (b) how many appeals resulted in the NHS assuming funding responsibility in full and (c) what the mean and median number of weeks was an appellant waited from the date the appeal was lodged to the appeal decision for each (i) NHS region and (ii) health authority, in (A) 199899, (B) 19992000 and (C) 200001.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available centrally.

Delayed Discharge (Elderly Patients)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged 75 years and over (a) experienced delayed discharge, (b) experienced delayed discharge due to awaiting residential placement and (c) required emergency readmission within 28 days of hospital discharge in Q3 and Q4 200001 and Q1 200102 in each (i) NHS region and (ii) health authority .

Jacqui Smith: Copies of the information requested have been placed in the Library. This does not include information requested on Quarter 1 200102 figures for each national health service region and health authority for the total number of elderly people aged 75 and over who experienced delayed discharge due to awaiting residential placement. From April this year figures on reasons for delay were only collected on the basis of patients of all ages.

Delayed Discharge (Elderly Patients)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (a) NHS regions and (b) health authorities, the number of elderly people aged 75 years and over for each quarter from Q1 19992000 to Q1 200102 experiencing delayed discharge because they were awaiting a domiciliary care package.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Free Nursing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what arrangements he has made to deal with appeals against assessment decisions under his Department's free nursing care guidance; how nursing home residents will be informed of their appeal rights; and if residents will have access to advocacy services in such cases;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to inform (a) nursing home managers and owners and (b) self- funding and part-funding nursing home residents of free nursing care schemes; and when such information was sent.

Jacqui Smith: Guidance on free nursing care in nursing homes was issued to the national health service and councils with social service responsibilities on 25 September. On the same day, organisations representing care homes were advised that the guidance had been issued. A Department of Health leaflet, NHS Funded Nursing Care in Nursing HomesWhat it means for you, has been issued to health authorities and councils to pass on copies to nursing home residents, their families and carers, nursing homes and general practitioner practices. A copy is also available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/ freenursingcare. Information abut the free nursing care scheme, including some frequently asked questions, was placed on the website when draft guidance was issued for consultation in July.
	Both documents refer to the opportunities for individuals to have determinations reviewed and, if necessary, that decision reviewed by a local continuing care panel on appeal. Residents will have equal access to local advocacy services and, in respect of health services, from April 2002, to the patient advocacy and liaison service. These issues can be raised by and with the national health service nurse at the time that the registered nursing care contribution is carried out.

Care Homes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licensed residential homes and nursing homes in England and Wales are operated (a) privately, (b) by local authorities and (c) by voluntary organisations.

Jacqui Smith: The table shows the number of registered private, local authority staffed and voluntary residential and nursing care homes in England. Information on the number of homes in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
	
		Number of registered private, local authority staffed and voluntary residential and nursing care homes in England in 2000 (as at 31 March)
		
			 Homes registered for the provision of: (a) Operated privately (b) Operated by local authority (c) Operated by voluntary organisations Total(85) 
		
		
			 Residential care 16,530 2,030 3,950 22,500 
			 Nursing homes(83) 3,550 (86) (86) 3,550 
			 Dual registered(84) 2,330 (86) (86) 2,330 
		
	
	(82) Includes small homes (less than four places)
	(83) General and mental nursing homes, and private hospitals and clinics. Excludes dual registered homes.
	(84) Homes providing residential and nursing care.
	(85) Rounded numbers.
	(86) Not applicable.
	Note:
	Figures may not add to totals because of rounding.
	Source:
	Department of Health annual returns

Care Homes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local authorities which operate residential care homes in England and Wales.

Jacqui Smith: All local social services authorities in England, with the exception of the City of London, operate residential care homes. Further details on numbers of homes operated by each authority are given in the statistical bulletin entitled 'Community Care Statistics 2000, Residential Personal Social Services for Adults, England', copies of which are available in the Library and on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/ sb0028.htm. Information on the number of homes in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

Health Authorities (Deficits)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the deficit for the 200102 year was as at 30 September for each health authority in England and Wales; and what deficits have been carried over from 200001 in each case.

John Hutton: Information on the financial position of health authorities in England at 30 September will be included in returns received in late November. However, all health authorities plan to achieve financial balance in 200102.
	Health authorities now produce their accounts on a resource basis rather than income and expenditure. The provisional annual summarised accounts for 200001 show only one health authority, Bexley and Greenwich, failed to achieve financial balance. The health authority merged on 1 April 2001.
	Matters for Wales are the responsibility of the devolved Administration.

Out-patient Appointments

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients fail to keep out-patient appointments in each of the five years.

John Hutton: In 200001, 11.4 per cent. of patients failed to keep their first out-patient appointments in England. We are tackling this by introducing booking systems throughout the national health service. By the end of 2005 all out-patient appointments and elective hospital admissions will be pre-booked, with patients agreeing the date (and time) for out-patient appointments in advance. Booking systems have been proved to reduce missed appointments significantly.

Private Health Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trusts have contracts with private health care providers; and how much has been spent on such contracts in each of the last four years.

John Hutton: The Department collects information on expenditure of national health service trusts on the purchase of health care from all non-NHS bodies. These figures are not broken down further into trust expenditure on private health care.
	Table 1 sets out the expenditure of NHS trusts on purchase of health care from all non-NHS bodies from 199697 to 19992000, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		Expenditure on purchase of health care from non-NHS bodies(87) in England 199697 to 19992000
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 199697 88,662,366 
			 199798 122,436,050 
			 199899 121,953,905 
			 19992000 134,783,788 
		
	
	(87) Non-NHS bodies includes:
	non-NHS statutory/state sector, including any expenditure on health care with local authorities and at Ministry of Defence hospitals
	voluntary (not for profit) sector, including any expenditure on health care with non-profit making voluntary organisations and registered charities. This excludes payments made under joint finance in accordance with section 28A of the NHS Act 1997 and section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968
	commercial (for profit) sector, including any expenditure on health care with commercial organisations. Commercial organisations include companies where profits are distributable to shareholders and also organisations owned by the proprietor operating as a sole trader.
	Table 2 sets out the number of NHS trusts reporting purchase of health care from non-NHS bodies from 199697 to 19992000.
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 199697 214 NHS trusts from a total of 402 NHS trusts 
			 199798 207 NHS trusts from a total of 425 NHS trusts 
			 199899 205 NHS trusts from a total of 402 NHS trusts 
			 19992000 192 NHS trusts from a total of 377 NHS trusts

Hospital Trusts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those hospital trusts which have gained zero stars in the new rating system where the trust chief executive has been in place for more than 18 months; and if he will name those chief executives.

John Hutton: The national health service trusts that gained no stars in the NHS performance ratings for acute trusts in 200001 are given in the table, along with the names of the chief executives who have been in post for more than 18 months.
	
		
			  NHS trust Chief executive in post more than 18 months  Name 
		
		
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust Yes Elizabeth Heyer 
			 Brighton Health Care NHS Trust Yes Stuart Welling 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Yes Anne-Marie Dean 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust Yes(88) Maggie Donovan 
			 Medway NHS Trust Yes Jan Filochowski 
			 United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust Yes Hugh Ross 
			 University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire (formerly Walsgrave Hospitals NHS Trust) Yes David Loughton 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust No  
			 Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust No  
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust No  
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHST No  
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust No  
		
	
	(88) Appointed 1 April 2000

NHS Budgets

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on inflationary pressures on NHS budgets.

John Hutton: The level of healthcare cost inflation for the financial year 19992000 was 4.5 per cent. The figures are taken from the national health service hospital and community health service (HCHS) pay and price inflation index. The latest year for which data are available is 19992000. Assumptions for future years are based on our inflation target and possible recommendations from the pay review bodies.
	In comparison, NHS expenditure in England increased by 8.9 per cent. (6.3 per cent. in real terms) in 19992000.

Medical Negligence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid out in medical negligence claims in each of the last four years, together with the cost of accompanying legal fees.

Hazel Blears: Figures on the amounts included in the National Audit summarised accounts for clinical negligence expenditure for the latest available years are as follows.
	
		
			 Year  million 
		
		
			 199697 235 
			 199798 144 
			 199899 221 
			 19992000 373 
		
	
	Source:
	National Health Service summarised accounts for health authorities, NHS trusts and NHS Litigation Authority.
	Changes to accounting policies mean that these amounts are not directly comparable.
	The summarised accounts do not show, and it is therefore not possible to break down, separately what proportion of theses figures are for compensation payments and legal costs.

Hospital Food

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement regarding recent changes to NHS food menus; and how much has been paid to outside consultants to advise on menus since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The better hospital food programme, announced in the NHS Plan, is designed to improve the quality and availability of food in hospitals. It is a long-term programme, the first stage of which requires hospitals, by 31 December 2001: to ensure that their meal services meet or exceed required standards and meet nutritional requirements; to provide a 24-hour catering service so that patients can obtain food when they need it; to adopt the national design for menus; and to provide on their menus dishes designed for the national health service by the team of leading chefs.
	401,334 has been paid to outside organisations in connection with the better hospital food programme. This has covered design costs for the new menu and implementation support pack, the establishment and full nutritional analysis of the NHS dish selector, recipe development and testing work and the development and management of the website. This equates to slightly more than 1,000 per NHS trust, and is a fraction of the NHS budget for catering. Additionally, central arrangement of much of this work will save the costs of duplicating work across the NHS.
	Details of any payments made to outside consultants by individual hospitals are not available centrally.

Cancer Treatment (Waiting Times)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time between general practitioner referral and clinical treatment was for (a) breast cancer cases, (b) lung cancer cases and (c) lower gastrointestinal cancer cases in each of the health authorities in England in the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: The information is not collected. Collection of data on waiting times from general practitioner referral to treatment for breast cancer will be rolled out in 2002, as stated in the NHS Cancer Plan. By 2005 full implementation of monitoring will be in place for lung cancer and lower gastrointestinal cancer.
	We are determined to reduce waiting times for cancer treatment. By December 2002 there will be a maximum waiting time of two months from urgent GP referral to treatment for breast cancer. This maximum waiting time target will be rolled out to all cancers by December 2005.

Overseas Treatment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he anticipates issuing guidelines to health authorities and doctors enabling them to sign contracts with providers of medical care in other European Union countries; and what types of establishments in the EU will be considered.

Alan Milburn: On 12 July the European Court of Justice ruled on joined cases C-157/99 Geraets-Smits and Peerbooms and case C-368/98 Vanbraekel that some hospital services may fall within European Community single market rules if they are provided for remuneration.
	Following this ruling, the Government have announced that National Health Service commissioners will be able to commission care for NHS patients from providers in other member states of the European Union, as part of their wider efforts to reduce waiting times.
	The decision to treat NHS patients in mainland Europe will be made locally as part of normal NHS commissioning arrangements. The Department is working closely with NHS managers and clinicians in Portsmouth, East Kent, West Sussex and East Surrey to test systems for offering patients treatment in other European countries. Lessons learned from these areas on the legal, clinical and quality issues involved in sending NHS patients abroad for treatment will inform guidance, which will be sent out to the service later this year.

Removing Barriers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department ensured that the report, Removing Barriers, published by the Local Government Association, was taken into account during the 199798 comprehensive spending review; and which of its recommendations have been implemented.

Jacqui Smith: In reaching our view of what to include in the comprehensive spending review 1998 we consulted widely and took into account the views of the Local Government Association (LGA) and other stakeholders.
	The LGA report Removing Barriers, which was published in 1997, highlighted the need for an active dialogue between the Department and the Department of Social Security (Department for Work and Pensions) on the interaction of the benefit system, and the local management of statutory welfare duties.
	Departmental Ministers and officials regularly meet their opposite numbers in DWP, and with LGA representatives to discuss issues of mutual interest.
	In the 1998 CSR we secured increased resources for social services averaging 3.1 per cent. a year in real terms for the years 19992000 to 200102.

Intermediate Care

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to build hospitals devoted to intermediate care.

Jacqui Smith: The NHS Plan set the target of an extra 5,000 intermediate care beds by 200304. These will be provided in a range of settingsin existing acute and community hospitals, in redesigned nursing homes or in purpose built facilities. The precise arrangements will be a matter for local decision. As part of our funding for intermediate care over the next two years, around 65 million will be for capital investment to support this development.

General Practitioners

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners (a) left and (b) were recruited into the NHS in each of the last four years.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General practitioners: Analysis of work forcejoiners and leavers 199697 to 19992000England
		
			  Number  
			   199697  199798  199899  19992000  
		
		
			 UPEs(89),(90) 26,855  27,099  27,392  27,591  27,704 
			   
			 Joiners  1,302  1,333  1,229  1,203  
			   
			 New joiners  1,029  1,069  967  958  
			 of which to:  
			 GMS  1,029  1,047  920  886  
			 PMS22  47  72  
			   
			 Re-joiners  273  264  262  245  
			 of which to:  
			 GMS  273  256  249  219  
			 PMS8  13  26  
			   
			  UPEs transferring directly from: 
			 GMS to PMS331  501  394  
			 PMS to GMS0  24  73  
			   
			 Leavers  1,058  1,040  1,030  1,090  
			 of which from:  
			 GMS  1,058  1,040  1,013  1,058  
			 PMS  17  32  
			   
			 Change in UPEs  244  293  199  113  
		
	
	(89) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs
	(90) Numbers of UPEs at 1 October each year from 1996 to 1999 and 30 September from 2000. Other rows relate to changes between successive October/September Censuses
	Source:
	Department of Health Statistical Bulletin Statistics for General Medical Practitioners in England 19992000

Waiting Lists

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients in each health authority in England have been waiting for treatment for more than 12 months.

John Hutton: The table shows, for each health authority in England, the percentage of patients who were waiting 12 months or more for admission to hospital on 31 August 2001.
	As part of the NHS plan, the national health service is working towards reducing the current maximum in-patient wait of 18 months to 14 months by March 2002, 12 months by March 2003, nine months by March 2004 and then ultimately six months by the end of 2005.
	
		
			 Health authority Percentage waiting more than 12 months 
		
		
			 Hillingdon 5.8 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 1.8 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 8.3 
			 Bedfordshire 7.0 
			 Berkshire 3.7 
			 Buckinghamshire 5.6 
			 Croydon 9.6 
			 East Kent 6.9 
			 West Kent 5.3 
			 Kingston and Richmond 6.1 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 8.5 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 5.4 
			 East Surrey 8.7 
			 West Surrey 10.9 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 6.4 
			 West Sussex 9.3 
			 Barking and Havering 6.1 
			 Brent and Harrow 6.0 
			 Camden and Islington 4.4 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 5.2 
			 East London and City 4.7 
			 North Essex 6.1 
			 South Essex 3.9 
			 South Lancashire 2.4 
			 Liverpool 4.0 
			 Manchester 6.3 
			 Morecambe Bay 2.6 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 3.4 
			 Salford and Trafford 6.4 
			 Sefton 3.3 
			 Stockport 3.8 
			 West Pennine 2.4 
			 Northamptonshire 4.8 
			 Oxfordshire 4.6 
			 Suffolk 4.6 
			 Barnsley 0.4 
			 North Derbyshire 0.7 
			 South Derbyshire 2.6 
			 Doncaster 0.3 
			 Leicestershire 2.6 
			 Lincolnshire 4.3 
			 North Nottinghamshire 1.0 
			 Nottingham 2.3 
			 Rotherham 0.4 
			 Sheffield 1.2 
			 Bury and Rochdale 3.2 
			 North Cheshire 7.9 
			 South Cheshire 4.7 
			 East Lancashire 1.6 
			 North West Lancashire 1.5 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 4.9 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire 6.4 
			 Somerset 3.4 
			 South and West Devon 6.6 
			 Wiltshire 5.9 
			 Avon 6.5 
			 Birmingham 2.0 
			 Wigan and Bolton 3.7 
			 Wirral 2.8 
			 Bradford 0.8 
			 County Durham and Darlington 0.9 
			 East Riding and Hull 3.5 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 0.5 
			 Leeds 3.0 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 1.1 
			 North Cumbria 1.8 
			 South Humber 0.8 
			 Northumberland 0.9 
			 Sunderland 0.5 
			 Tees 0.4 
			 Wakefield 2.3 
			 North Yorkshire 1.2 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 0.8 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 5.1 
			 Dorset 0.1 
			 North and East Devon 5.5 
			 Gloucestershire 1.6 
			 Coventry 2.7 
			 Dudley 2.2 
			 Herefordshire 3.7 
			 Sandwell 0.8 
			 Shropshire 3.5 
			 Solihull 1.2 
			 North Staffordshire 2.9 
			 South Staffordshire 5.2 
			 Walsall 0.8 
			 Warwickshire 1.1 
			 Wolverhampton 1.4 
			 Worcestershire 5.0 
			 Cambridgeshire 4.2 
			 Norfolk 5.3 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 6.3 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 6.9 
			 Hertfordshire 6.1 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 5.8 
			 England total 4.4

Epoetin

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information his Department has collated on the availability of Epoetin to treat anaemia in renal disease in England; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what methods his Department uses to monitor access to Epoetin by patients who require treatment for anaemia in renal disease in England;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the role of Epoetin in treating anaemia in renal disease;
	(4)  what assessment his Department has made of the importance of treating anaemia in renal diseases; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: There is much published information to show that the successful treatment of anaemia in renal disease can improve patients' well-being and their quality of life. The majority of renal patients require epoetin to attain recommended haemoglobin levels. Data on the availability of epoetin are collected in surveys commissioned by the Department of Health. The last survey was conducted in 1998 and the results were published last year in the 3rd annual report from the United Kingdom Renal Registry (copies available in the Library). This showed that 74 per cent. of all dialysis patients were being prescribed epoetin.

Diabetes

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the diabetes National Service Framework.

Jacqui Smith: We will be publishing a standards document this autumn, which will set out national standards to improve the quality of care for people with diabetes. The standards document will include the aims of the National Service Framework, the underpinning evidence and proposed service models. It will indicate the broad direction of travel over what will be a ten year programme, starting in April 2003.
	We will publish the delivery strategy (including milestones) for the Diabetes NSF next summer.
	We shall also be setting up an Implementation Group this autumn, which will work with the national health service and other interested parties to develop a delivery strategy for the Diabetes NSF that takes account of the changing roles and responsibilities of NHS organisations emerging from Shifting the Balance of Power. The agreed delivery strategy, including milestones, service models, performance indicators and underpinning programmes, will be published next summer.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

High Hedges

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will introduce legislation to regulate the size of high hedges.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 19 July 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government will introduce legislation giving local authorities powers to deal with complaints about high hedges in residential areas as soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable.

Supermarkets

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers the Government have to stop monopolistic practices by supermarkets in respect of farmers.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Competition Act 1998 and the Fair Trading Act 1973 provide power to investigate and take action against abuse of dominate position or monopolistic behaviour.
	Complaints under the Acts are a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the division of responsibility for climate change between Ministers in her Department and the Deputy Prime Minister.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 25 June 2001
	As Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, I will represent the UK at meetings and negotiations on international climate change issues, along with my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, as I did in Bonn. The Deputy Prime Minister will continue to play a role in international climate change discussions and negotiations on behalf of the Prime Minister.

BSE, Japan

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish the European Commission report into BSE risks in Japan.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 25 June 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 19 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Departmental Reorganisation

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely cost to the taxpayer of replacing the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 25 June 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 19 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Departmental Reorganisation

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government made of the impact of separating responsibility for rural affairs and land use planning into different Government Departments.

Alun Michael: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The Government's assessment is that bringing together responsibility for the environment, food and farming and rural affairs in a single Department will make a major contribution to the promotion of sustainable development in rural areas. DEFRA's remit includes the promotion of sustainable development across Government. The planning system remains a key instrument in delivering the Government's sustainable development objectives, and we are putting in place mechanisms to ensure continued close working with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Climate Change

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have to visit international conferences relating to climate change in the next 12 months.

Michael Meacher: Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will attend the Seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November this year, and the G8 Environment Ministers Conference, at which climate change will be discussed, in April 2002.

Climate Change

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role she intends to take in negotiations at the international climate change talks in Bonn in July; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 13 July 2001
	I was the head of the UK delegation during the recent climate change talks in Bonn. I played a full role in the negotiations, including in the all-night discussions which led to political agreement on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Climate Change

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) assessment and (b) monitoring her Department plans of the impact of the climate change levy her Department has made on (i) greenhouse gas emissions and (ii) businesses; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 13 July 2001
	The climate change levy, including climate change agreements, is expected to deliver reductions of 5MtC per annum by 2010. The levy is, overall, revenue neutral in that the receipts are being recycled to business through a 0.3 percentage point reduction in national insurance contributions and a programme of assistance to business to improve energy efficiency. The levy was introduced on 1 April 2001 and it is therefore too early to monitor impact. The operation of the levy will be kept under review.

Climate Change

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution to the reduction in greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide under the climate change strategy is expected from (a) agriculture, (b) transport (excluding aviation), (c) aviation, (d) industry, (e) business, (f) households, and (g) other activities; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 13 July 2001
	The UK's climate change programme that was published in November 2000 sets out full details of all the policies and measures that are reducing the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. The UK's baseline projections, that include the effect of some policies that have been introduced since Kyoto in 1997, estimate that the UK's emissions could be about 15 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. We estimate that the additional policies outlined in the programme could reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to 23 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.
	The table provides details of the savings from additional policies that we estimate could be delivered from each sector.
	
		
			 Sector/Policy MtC(91) 
		
		
			 Agricultureafforestation 0.6 
			   
			 TransportEU-level voluntary agreements on CO 2  from cars; 10-Year-Plan; action in Scotland and Wales. 5.7 
			   
			 Businessclimate change agreements; energy efficiency measures under the levy package; emissions trading. 5.0 
			   
			 Business and householdsreform of Building Regulations. 1.3 
			   
			 Householdsimprovements to domestic energy efficiency, including the Energy Efficiency Commitment. 2.6 to 3.7 
			   
			 Householdsaction to replace community heating systems; New HEES; appliance standards and labelling. 1.4 
			   
			 Other activitiespublic sector targets; action by the Scottish Executive. 0.6 
		
	
	(91) Million tonnes of carbon equivalent.
	The UK's baseline projections include the effect of the fuel duty escalator to 1999 (12.5 MtC), the price effect of the climate change levy (2 MtC) and delivery of the 10 per cent. renewables target (2.5 MtC). It has not been possible to identify separate carbon savings from aviation, although action is being taken to tackle the rising emissions from this sector. Reduced emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from the agriculture sector, and of nitrous oxide and the fluorinated gases from the industrial sector, have also already been included in baseline projections.

Climate Change

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made towards meeting the objectives of the Government's climate change strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 13 July 2001
	The Government have continued to take action to tackle climate change. In 1999, the last year for which figures are available, the UK's greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced to 14.4 per cent. below 1990 levels.
	The Government have also made good progress towards implementing the policies and measures that were set out in the climate change programme. For example, the climate change levy package has been introduced, the Carbon Trust and the Climate Change Projects Office have been set up; substantial funds have been made available to support renewable energy projects; and a draft framework for a greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme was published in May, with trading due to begin in April 2002. The Government are also offering an incentive of 215 million over five years to companies joining the scheme.

Climate Change

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent Royal Society report, The Role of Land Carbon Sinks in Mitigating Global Climate Change.

Michael Meacher: The Royal Society's report is a valuable contribution to the debate on how to respond to the threat of climate change. In particular we share the Society's view that, because of the finite size, uncertainty and potential reversibility, sink enhancement should not divert resources from technologies which reduce emissions. We also agree with the Society that steps should be taken to manage forests and crops in a way that protects and enhances their role as a carbon sink in a manner compatible with other goals of sustainable development, and accept the need to increase accuracy of monitoring and verification of land sinks. The Society's conclusions are consistent with the policy that the UK pursues in the international climate negotiations, and with UK policies for sustainable agriculture and forestry. We congratulate the Society on timely publication of the report shortly before the successful resumption of the climate change negotiations in July.

Climate Change

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's plans in respect of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change document on climate change published on 12 July.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 July 2001
	The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) documents published on 12 July were approved earlier in the year and the summaries from each of the three volumes have been available on the IPCC website (http://www.ipcc.ch) since then. The 12 July launch was of the final printed version by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the IPCC. The Government have taken a close interest in the preparation and approval of these reports and have drawn on earlier drafts in preparing the United Kingdom's Climate Change Programme published last November. The Government strongly support the IPCC and regard these reports as providing an authoritative view on the scientific and technical aspects of climate change. The Government with the EU have pressed for consideration of the implications of the IPCC reports at the 7th Meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Marrakesh in October/ November.

Climate Change

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with members of the (a) US and (b) Japanese Administrations on the Kyoto targets; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 13 July 2001
	I discussed the Kyoto Protocol with Paula Dobriansky, Under-Secretary for Global Affairs at the US State Department, and Yoriko Kawaguchi, the Japanese Environment Minister, during the recent climate change talks in Bonn. I also met Mrs. Kawaguchi in London on 16 July. I emphasised the importance of pressing ahead with the Kyoto Protocol, while keeping the door open to the US.

Climate Change

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received from (a) the Department of Trade and Industry, (b) the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and (c) the Cabinet Office regarding (i) ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and (ii) the UK Climate Change Strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 July 2001
	The Government have declared their intention to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and will aim to do so at the same time as other member states of the European Community by 2002 at the latest.
	Climate change is a major, cross-cutting policy issue. The UK climate change programme was developed in close consultation with all relevant Government Departments, many of which are responsible for developing and implementing policies in the programme.

Public Service Agreements

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will adopt all the targets set by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in their public service agreement.

Elliot Morley: The Department has taken over responsibility for all of the public service agreement targets published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. We have also assumed responsibility for the public service agreement targets relating to areas of work transferred from the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Recycling

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she takes to ensure that the building of incinerators does not undermine the viability of local recycling schemes.

Michael Meacher: The Government have made it clear in Waste Strategy 2000 that incinerators must not crowd out recycling. Local authorities must also deliver the statutory targets set by the Government which will, on average, double the recycling and composting of household waste within three years and nearly treble it within five years.
	We have also set guidelines on Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects to require proposals including incinerators to demonstrate that all opportunities for recycling have been considered first and that there is no barrier to the future development of recycling. We have also established a 40 million Waste and Resources Action Programme to overcome market barriers and hence improve the long-term viability of recycling of waste.

Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list, in order of rank, recycling rates achieved by each OECD country.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 10 July 2001
	The table lists estimated municipal waste recycling (including composting) rates for OECD countries. The rates are based on figures published in the OECD Environmental Data, Compendium 1999. The OECD publication does not include recycling rates and the figures given have been estimated from the information available. Comparisons between countries should be made with caution. There are doubts about comparability for a number of countries because of missing data, differences in the year, coverage and definitions (e.g. of recycling, municipal waste). Such differences, where they are known, are set out in the notes to the table.
	
		Municipal wasteOECD countries, latest year available
		
			 Country Year Recycling (including composting) rate percentage 
		
		
			 Austria(92) 199697 45 
			 Belgium(93) 1996 43 
			 Holland 1996 41 
			 Switzerland* 1996 40 
			 Finland*(94) 1994 37 
			 Denmark(95) 1997 29 
			 Canada*(96) 1996 29 
			 Germany 1993 29 
			 USA 1996 27 
			 Korea 1996 26 
			 Norway(97) 1997 25 
			 Sweden 1994 19 
			 Spain 1996 16 
			 Slovak Republic 1997 13 
			 UK(98) 19992000 11 
			 France*(99) 1995 10 
			 Iceland 1997 10 
			 Greece 1997 8 
			 Ireland 1995 8 
			 Portugal 1997 5 
			 Japan* 1993 4 
			 Poland 1997 2 
			 Russian Federation 1992 1 
			 Hungary 1996 0 
			 Mexico 1997 n/a 
			 Turkey 1995 n/a 
			 Czech Republic 1994 n/a 
			 New Zealand 1995 n/a 
			 Italy 1997 n/a 
			 Luxembourg(100) 1996 n/a 
		
	
	(92) Household waste only
	(93) Flanders onlyincludes 330K of construction waste
	(94) May include waste from demolition sites, sewerage and water treatment
	(95) Household only
	(96) Includes construction/demolition waste and sewage sludge
	(97) Includes construction/demolition waste
	(98) Based on England and Wales data from Municipal Waste Survey
	(99) Household (excluding bulky waste) only
	(100) Total waste generated excludes separate collection
	Notes:
	Recycling rate is based on composting and recycling tonnage divided by the total waste generated. For those countries marked * the total waste generated is less than the total of all disposals because residues of some treatments e.g. (composting) are landfilled. The relevant recycling rate may therefore include some material which is subsequently landfilled.
	Source:
	OECD Environmental Data: Compendium 1999, Table 7.2C

Recycling

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what initiatives the Government plans to encourage local authorities to raise waste recycling targets;
	(2)  what financial assistance will be given to Essex County Council to help fund waste recycling initiatives.

Michael Meacher: We have put in place statutory performance standards on recycling that all local authorities must achieve by 200304 and 200506. We have also said that we would look again at longer-term targets in the light of what local authorities are able to achieve and in the light of any technological developments.
	The Spending Review 2000 announced the framework for the Government's support to local authorities for the next three years up to 200304. This included an annual increase in the revenue support to local authorities for Environmental Protection and Cultural Services (EPCS), which includes waste management efforts. By 200304 this support will have risen by 1.1 billion over the 200001 provision. Consistent with the general local authority financial framework, it is for Essex County Council to decide the proportion of their budget that should be directed to waste management work.
	In addition to general support to local authority revenue expenditure, the spending review provided 140 million of Government grant for waste management work and 220 million for Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) resources, for waste projects. We will shortly consult on how the 140 million grant should be distributed. At this stage it is not possible to identify what funding Essex County Council might receive from this source.
	Local Public Service Agreements also provide opportunities for authorities to commit themselves to exceeding the statutory recycling targets and to be rewarded with additional resources for doing so.
	We have also established the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to promote sustainable waste management by working to create stable markets for recycled materials and products and remove barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling. A stable and efficient market for recycled materials will help local authorities in their efforts to meet their statutory performance targets.

Recycling

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives the Government have to make the public more aware of the importance of waste recycling.

Michael Meacher: DEFRA's Are You Doing Your Bit? campaign promotes messages to encourage people to reduce waste (including through recycling), use energy efficiently, and conserve water. The campaign aims to inform people about the impact of their individual and collective actions and to motivate individuals to make small changes in their everyday actions to protect the environment.
	The Department also supports the activities of the National Waste Awareness Initiative. This programme, targeted predominantly at the general public, aims to encourage more responsible attitudes towards waste and ways of dealing with it that are more sustainable eg to reduce it at source, re-use it, recycle it, or dispose of it safely if no other alternative exists.

Recycling

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on her target for recycling household waste;
	(2)  what plans she has to set higher targets for recycling.

Michael Meacher: Under the Local Government Act 1999, the Government have set statutory performance standards for each English local authority for the composting and recycling of household waste. Overall, these standards require a doubling of recycling in 200304 and a tripling by 200506 compared to the 199899 baseline.
	We will increase further the targets for household waste recycling and composting once these initial targets have been achieved.

Livestock Diseases

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will investigate reports of outbreaks of blisters in the mouths of sheep and cattle unrelated to foot and mouth disease; if she will issue guidance to vets on this subject; and if she will assess to what extent such blisters may be mistaken for foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Blisters or vesicles are normally caused by the foot and mouth disease virus. It is the presence of ulcers and other mouth lesions that may cause difficulties in diagnosis. This is because lesions caused by the foot and mouth disease virus heal quickly in sheep and may not be present to aid a diagnosis whereas lesions due to other causes take longer to heal. To aid the diagnosis of foot and mouth disease, descriptions of some of the more common mouth lesions found in sheep, not caused by the foot and mouth disease virus, have been published in recent months in the veterinary literature.
	Because of the need to cull animals believed to have foot and mouth disease within 24 hours to prevent the spread of disease, cases of foot and mouth disease must be confirmed on clinical grounds, without the benefit of laboratory results. A veterinary officer may order the slaughter of susceptible livestock on suspicion of disease in circumstances where the symptoms are suggestive of foot and mouth disease but not sufficiently consistent to confirm disease on clinical grounds.

Livestock Movements

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications of D notice restrictions for the movement of farm animals in Worcestershire; when she expects all such restrictions to be removed; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 13 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Livestock Movements

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to restrict the long-distance movement of farm animals.

Elliot Morley: Long-distance movement of farm animals in Great Britain has been restricted since the foot and mouth outbreak began in February.
	From 17 September livestock have been able to move for commercial reasons as well as for welfare reasons, subject to appropriate disease control restrictions and strict biosecurity controls. Journeys are not subject to a distance limit, but the journey must take no longer than nine hours. Full details of the conditions to be applied are available on the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk.

Livestock Movements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review the livestock movement restrictions; what is the timetable of such a review; and if she will monitor the applicability of the full range of movement restrictions to the Isle of Wight.

Elliot Morley: The livestock movement restrictions arising from the foot and mouth disease outbreaks are kept under continuous review in the light of progress with eradicating the disease. Farm-to-farm movements are restarting in phases between 17 September and 1 October. We will then review the extent to which additional movements could be permitted over the winter and spring period.

Livestock Movements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the differences between livestock movement restrictions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Elliot Morley: Responsibility for animal health matters is devolved to the Administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but there is close co-operation between the Rural Affairs Departments across the UK.
	As the foot and mouth disease situation various across the constituent parts of the UK, different measures are needed to control it in different areas, although a common autumn movement regime currently operates in England and Wales.

Contracts

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contractors have had their contracts terminated because of (a) incompetence, (b) financial irregularities and (c) disagreements with her Department's officials.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 13 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Helicopters

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates her Department hired or used helicopters in the last six months; and what the purpose was of each use.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 3 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Classical Swine Fever

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what precautions the Government have taken to ensure that the United Kingdom is not subject to a further outbreak of classical swine fever.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Imported Wheat

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks are made on the quality of imported wheat; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Moles

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the methods used by other EU countries to control moles;
	(2)  if her Department will assess the advantages of introducing a ban on the use of strychnine in agriculture to kill moles.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Incineration

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the locations of incinerators in England and Wales (a) which are operational, (b) where permission has been given but they are not yet operational and (c) where a planning application has been submitted but has not yet been determined.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 10 July 2001
	The Environment Agency reports that there are 11 municipal waste incinerators currently operational in England and Wales, marked in the table as O. The table includes details of facilities which are under construction or approved but not yet constructed. Details of facilities where a planning application has been submitted but not yet determined are not held centrally. However, the table includes those planned sites that we are aware of.
	There are many other incinerators, generally much smaller than municipal waste incinerators, for the incineration of sewage sludge, hazardous waste, clinical waste, production waste from factories etc. Generally, the larger plant are regulated by the Environment Agency and details of their locations are available on the Environment Agency's public register except where incinerators are part of another process regulated by the Agency, where they may not be shown separately on the register. Smaller non-hazardous incineration plant are regulated by local authorities; the Department holds general information but detailed information is held separately by each local authority on a public register.
	
		
			 Plant name District Status 
		
		
			 Nottingham Nottingham O 
			 Edmonton London Borough of Enfield O 
			 SELCHP London Borough of Lewisham O 
			 Belvedere London Borough of Bexley P 
			 Edmonton B London Borough of Enfield P 
			 Cleveland Stockton on Tees O 
			 Bolton Bolton O 
			 Chineham, North Baskingstoke Baskingstoke and Deane A 
			 Allington Maidstone A 
			 Capel, Surrey Mole Valley P 
			 Guildford Guildford P 
			 Colnbrook, Slough Slough A 
			 Marchwood New Forest A 
			 Redhill Reigate and Banstead Borough Council P 
			 Ridham Dock Swale District Council P 
			 South Portsmouth Portsmouth P 
			 Coventry Coventry O 
			 Dudley Dudley O 
			 Stoke on Trent Stoke on Trent O 
			 Tyseley Birmingham O 
			 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton O 
			 Worcester Worcester District Council P 
			 Goole East Riding of Yorkshire P 
			 Grimsby North East Lincolnshire P 
			 Hull City of Hull P 
			 Kirklees Kirklees U/C 
			 Sheffield Sheffield O 
			 Wrexham Wrexham P 
			 Crymlyn Burrows Neath Port Talbot U/C 
		
	
	O Operational
	U/C Under construction
	A Approved but not yet constructed
	P Planned

Incineration

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to (a) conduct and (b) commission research into the environmental and health impact of waste incineration; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 13 July 2001
	There is already a large body of research on incineration, but we are looking at what more needs to be done and the current Environmental Protection research programme contains a prospective project on possible Health Effects of Incinerators.

Incineration

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of dioxins is considered potentially lethal; what dioxins are produced in incineration of waste; and if she will make a statement on the methods of disposal of them.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 18 July 2001
	There is no evidence on which to base a level at which dioxins are potentially lethal to humans. Studies on humans who have been exposed to high levels of dioxins as a result of accidents or occupational exposure have reported a range of effects such as chloracne, an increased risk of cancer, changes in biochemical parameters such as enzyme levels and increases in mortality from cardiovascular disease, although there remains uncertainty about the direct causal link with dioxins. It is not known exactly what level of dioxins the people in these studies were exposed to but body burdens were at least one order of magnitude higher than in the general population. The Committee on Toxicity (COT) is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the toxicity of dioxins and will report their findings later this year.
	A mixture of dioxins is produced in incineration of wastethey are formed on particles as the gases leaving the incinerator cool down. The gas treatment system reduces the particles and dioxins levels to the limits prescribed in the Waste Incineration Directive (total concentration of dioxins and furans 0.1ng toxic equivalents/m 3 averaged over 68 hours). Disposal of material contaminated with dioxinssuch as fly ashis normally to special landfill where they are contained, do not leach, and will pose no risk to health or the environment.

Incineration

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on large-scale waste incineration.

Michael Meacher: Incineration of waste should only be considered where recycling is not feasible or is not the best practicable environmental option.
	Our policy is that where waste incineration facilities are proposed, they should be small enough that they do not act as a disincentive to increases in recycling, and should include Combined Heat and Powerwhere heat is used to produce electricity and provide heating to homes or businesseswherever possible.

Incineration

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to compensate those living in the vicinity of proposed municipal incinerators; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Municipal incinerator plants will only be built once the full planning process has been completed. The local planning authority is responsible for the determination of any relevant planning permission, including the imposition of any appropriate conditions. We have no plans to compensate residents living in the vicinity of proposed municipal incinerators.
	The Environment Agency will regulate the environmental performance of such plants. Its permits contain legally binding conditions concerning operational requirements. The Environment Agency will regularly inspect the incinerators and require the reporting of emissions and performance.

Incineration

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration she has given to a moratorium on new municipal incinerators; and if she will make a statement.

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce a moratorium on new municipal incinerators; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green) on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 47W.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last travelled on the London Underground in the course of her official duties.

Margaret Beckett: I have not had cause to travel on the London Underground in the course of my official duties at DEFRA.

Motorcyclists

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to curb the use of roads in areas of outstanding natural beauty as race tracks by organised gangs of motorcyclists.

Michael Meacher: There are laws already in place to deal with dangerous driving, including by motorcyclists. There are no special arrangements for either Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Parks. In each case it is for the local police to enforce the law. That has been happening in recent problem areas such as the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, through the reduction and enforcement of speed limits and the deployment of helicopters and speed traps, which are having a positive effect.

Disinfection

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent changes have been made to the disinfection regime.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 4 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Wind Farms (Fleetwood)

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the proposed wind farm developments off the shore of Cleveleys, Lancashire on the fishing industry in Fleetwood; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Cattle Grazing

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effects of the controls on movement of cattle on the ecological management of wetlands used for cattle grazing; and what representations she has received from (a) English Nature, (b) the National Trust and (c) the RSPB on this matter.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 4 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

BNFL

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has received on progress made in the BNFL stakeholder dialogue; and what assessment she has made of the benefit to departmental policy development of the outputs of the dialogue.

Michael Meacher: My officials have reported to me on the progress of the dialogue, which is organised by the Environment Council, and its reports are publicly available on the Environment Council website. The dialogue is between an individual company and its stakeholders and is intended to contribute to its own policy development and not that of my Department. But the UK Government and the devolved Administrations will soon publish a consultation paper on the long-term management of radioactive waste, which will start a process of national debate and decision making. We are therefore learning from this dialogue, in terms of how to work with stakeholdersincluding the importance of openness and trustand in relation to any conclusions that are reached on the safe management of radioactive materials and wastes. We have asked the Council about the possibility of quoting sections of the Waste Working Group's report in our consultation paper.

Nuclear Waste

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she attended initial discussions regarding her Department's planned consultation paper on nuclear waste; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 13 July 2001
	The Secretary of State and I have had several discussions since June on nuclear issues including radioactive waste. The UK Government and the devolved Administrations will soon publish a consultation paper setting out detailed proposals. This will begin the process leading to the implementation of a radioactive waste management policy capable of inspiring broad support across the UK.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets her Department has set for reductions of (a) carbon dioxide and (b) greenhouse gas emissions for (i) 2010 and (ii) 2040; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 13 July 2001
	The UK's target under the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels over the period 200812. The UK Government have an additional domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The Government have not yet set any targets for later years.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what part the UK Government intend to play to meet the royal commission report on Environmental Pollution recommendations of a global 60 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide by 2050.

Michael Meacher: The report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommends that the Government should now adopt a strategy that puts the UK on a path to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. from current levels by about 2050. The UK Climate Change Programme recognises that emissions reductions of 60 per cent. to 70 per cent. globally may be needed to avoid dangerous climate change, and that developed countries may eventually have to make even greater emissions reductions. Emissions reductions of this magnitude can only be achieved by international action involving a series of commitments of which the Kyoto agreement is but the first step. The Government have provided a clear signal of the UK's intentions by setting a domestic goal of reducing CO 2 emissions by 20 per cent. below the 1990 by 2010. This goal goes well beyond the UK's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol and signals the UK's commitment to the long term process. The measures that could achieve the 20 per cent. CO 2 reduction are set out in the UK's Climate Change Programme published in November 2000. The Government are currently conducting a wider review of energy policy which encompasses technologies for emissions reduction in the longer term. The energy review is due to be completed at the end of 2001 and will contribute to the Government's response possibly early in 2002 to the specific recommendations in the report from the Royal Commission.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for the UK the changes in the levels of production of greenhouse gases in each year since 1990.

Michael Meacher: The table lists the changes in the levels of emissions of UK greenhouse gases each year from 1990 to 1999, the most recent year available. The gases are weighted by global warming potential and emissions are in million tonnes carbon equivalent.
	
		
			  1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) 164.4 165.5 161.4 157.2 156.1 153.7 159.0 152.2 152.8 149.4 
			 Methane (CH 4 ) 21.0 20.7 20.2 19.4 17.6 17.5 17.1 16.6 15.8 15.1 
			 Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) 18.3 17.7 15.8 14.9 16.1 15.4 15.9 16.4 15.9 11.7 
			 Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 3.10 3.23 3.37 3.52 3.77 4.15 4.44 5.03 5.50 1.69 
			 Perflurocarbons (PFCs) 0.62 0.49 0.26 0.22 0.27 0.30 0.25 0.18 0.18 0.18 
			 Sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) 0.20 0.21 0.23 0.24 0.29 0.31 0.35 0.34 0.35 0.36 
			 Basket total 208 208 201 195 194 191 197 191 191 178 
			 Percentage change from 1990 baseline(101)  -0.3 -3.4 -6.3 -6.9 -8.2 -5.5 -8.5 -8.6 -14.4 
		
	
	(101) The 1990 baseline is the sum of 1990 totals for CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O and 1995 totals for HFCs, PFCs and SF 6 (208.4 million tonnes carbon equivalent).

Sewer Flooding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the incidence of sewage flooding in Lancashire in the last five years.

Michael Meacher: Information on the incidence of sewage flooding in Lancashire is not collected centrally. The Director General of Water Services publishes information on the incidence of sewage flooding for United Utilities each year in Levels of service for the water industry in England and Wales. The most recent report for 200001 was published at the end of July and is available from the House of Commons Library.

Sewer Flooding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers she has to require 
	(1)  North West Water to stop flooding in people's homes through faults in sewage systems;
	(2)  water companies to compensate people whose homes are damaged as a consequence of sewage flooding.

Michael Meacher: Sewerage undertakers have a duty under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to effectually drain their area, and this duty is enforceable by the Secretary of State or the Director General of Water Services. However, there can be practical or financial constraints. The duty in the 1991 Act is not, therefore, considered to be an absolute requirement on undertakers to prevent sewer flooding in all circumstances. Each undertaker is expected to set priorities for work which may be necessary. Ofwat and my officials are currently examining the causes of sewer flooding and possible remedies. Ofwat will publish a paper on the issue early in 2002.
	Householders are entitled to compensation equivalent to a year's sewerage charges up to a maximum of 1,000 under the Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) Regulations every time there is internal sewage flooding.

Sewer Flooding

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the powers of Ofwat to compel water companies to carry out their statutory duties with regard to preventing the incursion of sewage into customers' homes; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Sewerage undertakers have a duty under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to drain effectually their area and this duty is enforceable by the Secretary of State or the Director General of Water Services. However, there can be practical or financial constraints. The duty in the 1991 Act is not, therefore, considered to be an absolute requirement on undertakers to prevent sewer flooding in all circumstances. Ofwat and the Department are currently examining the causes of sewer flooding and possible remedies. Ofwat will publish a paper on the issue early in 2002.

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been recorded in respect of offences concerning cruelty to animals in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Animal Welfare

Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals were killed under licences issued by her Department, broken down by species, in each of the last three years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 20 July 2001
	No such licences have been issued in the last three years to kill any wild animals (as defined in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).

Genetically Modified Organisms

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many batches of seed have been (a) recalled and (b) stopped from growing this year because of the presence of unauthorised GMOs.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 July 2001
	During 2001, no seed sold to farmers has been recalled or stopped from growing due to the presence of unauthorised GMOs. There have been seven occasions when small-scale variety trails have been halted in England. In three cases the trials were not sown and in four cases the trial plots were destroyed because of suspected GMO presence. In five out of the seven cases the suspected GMO presence proved to be negative.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research is being carried out on soil ecology at the farm scale evaluations of GM crops.

Michael Meacher: The Farm Scale Evaluations are an ecological experiment specifically designed to study the effects of the weed control regimes associated with four genetically modified herbicide tolerant (GMHT) crops on farmland food-webs and in particular the food resources available for farmland birds. The experiment is based on the ecology (that is, interaction of living organisms with each other and their environment) of the soil weed-seed bank and a number of selected invertebrate indicator species that feed on farmland weeds or animals living on the weeds. The study includes a direct investigation of the effects of the herbicide management systems associated with the GMHT crops on soil-dwelling invertebrates such as spiders, beetles and Collembola, and indirect investigation of the effects on the activity of some species of earthworms.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on a threshold for the presence of authorised GM varieties.

Elliot Morley: The EU Commission has issued a revised working document on adventitious presence of GM seed in seed of conventional varieties, taking into account the opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants. This proposes the introduction of the following thresholds for the adventitious presence of authorised GMs:
	(a) 0.3 per cent. for seed of a cross-pollinating species other than maize (for which the probability of volunteers is very low) and beet and certain vegetable plants (cross-pollinated crops propagated from seed but cultivated vegetatively);
	(b) 0.5 per cent. for seed of maize, beet and certain vegetable plants (see (a)), for seed of a self-pollinating species other than soya and field pea (see (c)), for seed of vegetatively propagated species (in practice only potato);
	(c) 0.7 per cent. for soya and field pea (for which the probability of volunteers is very low).
	Genetically modified seeds having not received an authorisation under Part C of Directive 90/220/EEC now replaced by Directive 2001/18/EC should not be present in a seed lot. Directive 2001/18/EC does not foresee the establishment of thresholds for presence of unauthorised genetically modified organisms.
	However, it is the intention to amend Directive 2001/18/EEC to provide for the possibility of establishing thresholds for technically unavoidable or adventitious presence of minute amounts of genetically modified organisms as or in products not authorised in accordance with Community legislation provided that certain conditions are fulfilled. The annexes of the seed Directive will have to be changed accordingly once the amendment of Directive 2001/18/EC enters into force.
	The Government are consulting the main stakeholder organisations on the EU Commission's revised working document. When these consultations are concluded, the Government will form a view on its policy on thresholds.
	Meanwhile, I am placing a copy of the Commission's working document (dated 25 May 2001) in the Library of the House.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the parish and community consultations to be held ahead of the autumn-sown farm scale trials of GM crops;
	(2)  if she will list the consultation meetings, together with their dates, held in relation to the winter oilseed rape farm trials of GM crops;
	(3)  in what ways the Government intends to respond to concerns raised by parishioners and local farmers near to the proposed autumn-sown farm trials of GM crops.

Michael Meacher: The Department wrote on 23 July to all relevant parish, district and county councils in England with copies of the consents for the GM crops involved, information about the Farm Scale Evaluations and details of the proposed locations of the 26 trials. I wrote to all English constituency MPs with the locations and background information on the evaluations. We have offered that DEFRA officials will be available, whenever possible, to attend public meetings to discuss the evaluations if called by a parish council.
	We have received three recent invitations for officials to attend public meetings in Hemswell Cliff in Lincolnshire, Driffield in East Yorkshire and Long Marston in Warwickshire. The first of these meetings was held on 6 September. The other two meetings are to be held in October.
	We have received seven representations from local parish members specifically about the autumn sites but none from local farmers. We have responded to the specific concerns raised, which were mostly about the use of the herbicide Glufosinate Ammonium by providing further information to the correspondents.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the contracts her Department has with the National Institute of Agricultural Botany in respect of GM (a) crops and (b) foods.

Michael Meacher: The Department has contracts with NIAB for the provision of technical services undertaking statutory testing for Plant Breeders Rights, National Listing and Seed Certification and for a desk study to review methods for sampling seed lots to determine the presence of GM material.
	NIAB is one of the partners in a research consortium undertaking the Bright project (Botanical and Rotational Implications of GM Herbicide Tolerance). DEFRA provides half the funding for this project.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the public inquiry will be reconvened into the proposed inclusion of Chardon LL genetically modified fodder maize on to the National Seed List.

Michael Meacher: The Hearing into the proposed addition of Chardon LL to the United Kingdom National List was adjourned in November 2000 when we learned that French testing system used to produce the Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability report did not appear to be fully compliant with the requirements of Directive 72/180/EEC.
	Despite a number of letters, we have yet to receive a substantive response from the Commission to our inquiries on the status of the French testing system. However, I understand that the French Authorities have re-sown Chardon LL in official tests this year and that a new test report will be submitted to my officials this autumn.
	In addition, the Commission has indicated that it proposes to update the provisions of the 1972 Directive to reflect best current scientific practice.
	If we receive appropriate assurances from the Commission before the end of the year, we would hope to reconvene the Hearing early in 2002.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contacts her Department has had with the European Commission since October 2000, in respect of proposed listing of the GM fodder maize, Chardon LL; and if she will place copies of the correspondence in the Library.

Michael Meacher: Officials wrote to the European Commission on 22 November 2000 when it became clear that there were doubts about the French testing system for maize. My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Hayman wrote to Commissioner Byrne on 20 December 2000 and received a holding response on 23 February. No substantive response has been received to date. Copies of the correspondence have been placed in the Library of the House.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in establishing a compensation scheme for those affected adversely by the growing of GM crops.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	Liability for any loss that might arise as a result of the use of GM crops is an important issue, which is being addressed at both European and UK levels. The European Commission issued a working paper in late July with proposals for an environmental liability regime to cover a range of activities, including for GMOs. We are considering these proposals, which cover damage to biodiversity and damage that creates serious harm to human health. Given the support expressed at last December's Environment Council by member states to the principle of a directive in this area and to the idea of including GMOs, it is likely that GMOs, and therefore the cultivation of GM crops, will be covered by any new directive.
	I am also considering the issue of any domestic liability provisions for GM crops that might be needed in the light of the Commission's wider proposals. I am not in a position to provide any further detail at present.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of land are set aside for farm scale evaluations of GM crops in (a) Pembrokeshire, (b) Wales and (c) the United Kingdom.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	The information is as follows:
	(a) There have been no Farm Scale Evaluations of GM crops in Pembrokeshire during the course of the research programme so far.
	(b) There was one Farm Scale Evaluation site in Wales in 2000 and another in 2001. Both of these were at Sealand, Flintshire and the GM crops covered an area of 8.5 acres (3.5 ha) in total.
	(c) The number of Farm Scale Evaluation sites in the United Kingdom and the area of GM crops involved (including (b)), are as shown for 2000 and 2001 together with those expected for 2002.
	
		
			  Number of sites Area (acres) Area (hectares) 
		
		
			 2000 and 2001 175 2,433 985 
			 Estimated for 2002 103 1,354 548 
			  
			 Estimated total 278 3,787 1,533

Genetically Modified Organisms

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers she has to intervene when disposal guidelines are not adhered to in relation to land used in farm scale evaluations of GM crops.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	The powers to intervene on disposal arrangements for the GM crops in the farm-scale evaluations depend on the approval status of the GM crop concerned.
	The GM rape and beet in the evaluations are being grown in England under research (Part B) consents issued by this Department. The consents specify the disposal arrangements. The GM Inspectorate act on behalf of the Secretary of State to monitor compliance with these conditions. They have powers to require applicants to comply and to take remedial action to safeguard human health and the environment if necessary. There are also powers to prosecute where it seems an offence has occurred.
	The GM maize in the evaluations has a Europe-wide approval for cultivation under Directive 90/220; this does not impose any conditions on the growing or disposal of the crop. Under the farm-scale evaluations agreement, SCIMAC, the industry body, has responsibility for the disposal of the GM crops in the evaluations and to ensure they are not used as fodder for animals. At harvest the maize plants are removed from the site and then either taken to landfill or chopped up and incorporated into the soil away from the trial site.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if the Government have implemented the recommendation from the Working Group on the Application of Genetics in Fisheries and Mariculture at its meeting in Cork in 1998 concerning risk assessment protocols that distinguish between the impacts of polyploid and transgenic organisms; and if he will place a copy of that document in the Library;
	(2)  if she will list the names and positions of British members of the Working Group on the Application of Genetics in Fisheries and Mariculture of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas.

Michael Meacher: The recommendation referred to is met through implementation of European Union Directive 90/220. This stipulates that genetically modified organisms, including transgenic fish, cannot be released unless a detailed risk assessment confirms there will be no unacceptable effects on human health or the environment.
	The report of the relevant Working Group has been made available in the Libraries of the House. The current UK members of this group are:
	Dr. D. Stone, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
	Dr. A. Moore, CEFAS
	Dr. E. Verspoor, Scottish Executive, Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Fisheries Research Service
	Professor G. Carvalho, University of Hull
	Professor A. Ferguson, Queens University, Belfast.
	A genetically modified or transgenic fish may also be a polyploid organism, but not necessarily so. Further background on the risk assessment of GM fish is given in the booklet entitled Guidance for Experimental Releases of Genetically Modified Fish (DETR/ACRE Guidance Note 8, February 1997). This is also available in the Libraries of the House.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the timetable for implementing EU Directive 2001/18 into UK law.

Michael Meacher: Member states are required to transpose Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment into national law by 17 October 2002. The Department has launched a consultation with stakeholders on the issues and principles raised by the new Directive. We will then hold a further round of consultations on implementing legislation in the first half of 2002 with a view to ensuring transposition by the required date.
	The Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland will be conducting separate consultations for their areas on the implementation issues for which they have devolved powers.

Waste Disposal

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will pilot schemes for pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion as techniques of waste disposal; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 July 2001
	A number of facilities are already being developed to demonstrate the full capabilities of these processes with respect to a range of wastes. I am keen that these possibilities should be pursued. That is why energy produced from the biodegradable fraction of waste by these new technologies is supported in the Renewables Obligation.

Waste Disposal

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce statutory separation at source of household waste in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 July 2001
	The Government have set challenging statutory recycling targets for local authorities. It is likely that in order to meet these targets many more local authorities will decide to introduce kerbside separation of household waste. In light of that, we will decide later whether or not to make separation at source mandatory.

Waste Disposal

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will accept the recommendation of the Fifth report of the Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs on the Government's waste strategy 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 July 2001
	The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) leads on renewable energy issues. In its Preliminary Consultation on the Renewables Obligation, it proposed that although it will make only a small contribution, energy from the biodegradable fraction of waste, including waste incineration, should count towards the renewable energy target. However, this would not receive support under the Renewables Obligation. In view of the Select Committee's comments, DEFRA is currently reconsidering this and other issues with DTI. DTI will shortly publish the Statutory Consultation document detailing the revised proposals.

Waste Disposal

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the advantages and disadvantages of restricting incineration to those facilities of less than 100,000 tonnes/year capacity; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 July 2001
	We have made it clear in Waste Strategy 2000 that incinerators, where they are built, should be appropriately sized so that they do not crowd out recycling. There has been no assessment of the advantages or disadvantages of restricting the size of incinerators.

Waste Disposal

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government plans to introduce to facilitate the tracking of dioxins in ash mixtures.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	In August 2001 the Environment Agency imposed conditions on municipal waste incinerators that required the operators to sample and analyse the ash streams arising from their processes for dioxins. These data will be placed on the relevant public registers. In addition, the Agency is presently trialling a process to track the initial destination of ash generated by municipal waste incinerators. Should the trial be successful, the Agency plans to implement the system throughout England and Wales.

Waste Disposal

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria the Environment Agency applies in deciding to apply the legally binding sanctions available to them to locate the final destinations of construction materials containing dioxins from toxic fly ash.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	Fly ash containing air pollution control residues is generally classified by the Environment Agency as a special waste. This means that its consignment from an incinerator, and any subsequent transfers as a waste, are subject to the requirements of the Special Waste Regulations 1996 and the duty of care imposed by section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	Under the Special Waste Regulations, each consignment of special waste must be pre-notified to the Environment Agency and must be accompanied by a consignment note which describes its hazardous properties.
	The Environment Agency does not have a legal duty to enforce the duty of care under section 34 of the 1990 Act but has a right of access to the records held by those subject to it. The guidance in DOE Circular 19/91 (paragraph 35) envisages that the Agency will pursue breaches of section 34 and seek access to these records where it suspects (a) that waste has not been transferred to an authorised person or (b) an actual or potential breach of section 33 of the 1990 Act.
	However, there are circumstances in which waste may cease to be a waste (eg it is used in the manufacture of building products) and at this point the Environment Agency's responsibilities for the enforcement of waste management controls also cease.

Waste Disposal

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what procedures are in place to ensure that the Environment Agency can distinguish between leachates from the Hilts Quarry site, Crich and the Roe's Lane landfill site in conducting investigations into applications by Rolls-Royce;
	(2)  on what evidence the Environment Agency determined the high reading of Cobalt 60 in samples of surface water in Crich, Derbyshire, in the third quarter of 1999 was a false reading;
	(3)  what action will be taken to ensure the safety of the existing site in the event of a decision by the Environment Agency to end the disposal of Rolls-Royce waste at Hilts Quarry, Crich;
	(4)  what studies are being (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned by the Environment Agency in making a determination on the applications submitted by Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations Ltd. in so far as they relate to disposal of waste at Hilts Quarry, Crich;
	(5)  what information is available to the Environment Agency on the nature of the materials (a) stored at Hilts Quarry, Crich, after disposal since the 1960s from Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations Ltd., Derby and (b) deposited at Hilts Quarry in weekly disposals from RRMPOL;
	(6)  what procedures have been put in place to ensure that sample results from Crich, Derbyshire, given to Rolls-Royce are made available to the Environment Agency and that abnormal results are investigated;
	(7)  what criteria the Environment Agency is applying in determining whether the disposal of Rolls-Royce waste at Hilts Quarry, Crich, Derbyshire, should continue.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 14 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Waste Disposal

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is, for each of the past five years, for each London borough, of the proportion of (a) household and (b) industrial waste that is (i) recycled, (ii) disposed of by incineration and (iii) disposed of by landfill.

Michael Meacher: The tables set out the available information for the percentage of municipal waste recycled, incinerated and landfilled for each of the four years, 199697, 199798, 199899 and 19992000 taken from the Department's Municipal Waste Management survey. The data are available for municipal waste but not for household waste separately. Household waste accounts for around 80 per cent. of municipal waste for London as a whole with the remainder coming from commercial and other sources. The available breakdown is by waste disposal areas. Data for 199596 are not available at local authority level.
	The only readily available information on the management of other industrial and commercial waste in London is for 199899 and is given as follows. This was collected by the Environment Agency's National Waste Production survey; further details are published in Strategic Waste Management Assessment 2000: London.
	
		London Municipal Waste, Unitary and Waste Disposal Authorities by disposal method 199697 to 19992000
		
			  Percentage  
			 Name Type(102),(105) 199697 199798 199899 19992000 
		
		
			 Recycled  
			 London Borough of Bexley UA 12 19 23 19 
			 Corporation of London UA (103) 0 0 1 
			 London Borough of Tower Hamlets UA (104) 2 3 3 
			 Westminster City Council UA 4 2 5 4 
			 London Borough of Greenwich UA 2 3 5 6 
			 London Borough of Lewisham UA 3 3 4 3 
			 London Borough of Southwark UA 2 3 3 4 
			 London Borough of Bromley UA 7 9 7 11 
			 London Borough of Croydon UA 9 9 9 9 
			 London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames UA 8 10 12 16 
			 London Borough of Merton UA 7 5 11 12 
			 London Borough of Sutton UA 13 13 15 20 
			 East London Waste Authority WDA (106)3 (106)3 3 (106)2 
			 North London Waste Authority WDA (106)4 (106)6 6 7 
			 West London Waste Authority WDA (104) 7 8 (106)7 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority WDA 5 5 6 9 
			 Total  5 6 7 8 
			   
			  Disposed of by incineration   
			 London Borough of Bexley UA 27 51 46 47 
			 Corporation of London UA 0 0 0 0 
			 London Borough of Tower Hamlets UA (104) 0 0 0 
			 Westminster City Council UA 58 60 50 54 
			 London Borough of Greenwich UA 84 78 75 54 
			 London Borough of Lewisham UA 95 95 93 91 
			 London Borough of Southwark UA 5 1 1 5 
			 London Borough of Bromley UA (103) (103) (103) (103) 
			 London Borough of Croydon UA 2 1 2 2 
			 London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames UA 0 0 0 0 
			 London Borough of Merton UA 0 0 0 0 
			 London Borough of Sutton UA 11 11 0 0 
			 East London Waste Authority WDA (106)13 (106)12 9 (106)9 
			 North London Waste Authority WDA (106)51 (106)41 41 49 
			 West London Waste Authority WDA (104) (103) (103) (103) 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority WDA 0 0 0 0 
			 Total  22 20 19 18 
			   
			  Disposed of by landfill   
			 London Borough of Bexley UA 62 30 31 34 
			 Corporation of London UA 100 100 100 99 
			 London Borough of Tower Hamlets UA (104) 98 97 97 
			 Westminster City Council UA 38 39 44 42 
			 London Borough of Greenwich UA 14 19 20 39 
			 London Borough of Lewisham UA 3 2 3 5 
			 London Borough of Southwark UA 93 97 96 93 
			 London Borough of Bromley UA 92 91 92 89 
			 London Borough of Croydon UA 89 90 90 89 
			 London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames UA 92 90 88 84 
			 London Borough of Merton UA 93 95 89 88 
			 London Borough of Sutton UA 76 76 85 80 
			 East London Waste Authority WDA (106)84 (106)84 88 (106)89 
			 North London Waste Authority WDA (106)45 (106)53 53 45 
			 West London Waste Authority WDA (104) 93 92 93 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority WDA 95 95 94 (106)91 
			 Total  73 74 74 74 
		
	
	(102) Unitary Authority
	(103) Negligible amount
	(104) Not available
	(105) Waste Disposal Authority
	(106) Includes an estimation for missing data
	
		London Industrial and Commercial Waste by disposal method199899
		
			 Percentage  
			  Disposal method Other 
			  Recycled Incineration Landfill disposal/ recovery 
		
		
			 Industrial 40 4 41 15 
			 Commercial 32 1 57 10 
			 Total 35 2 51 12

Waste Disposal

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions in each of the last five years (a) the Environment Agency and (b) local authorities have exercised their powers under section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to remove illegal waste tyre dumps.

Michael Meacher: Environment Agency data are available only for 1999 and 2000 and do not separately identify fly-tipping incidents involving waste tyres. The total number of notices which the Agency served under section 59(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in each of these years is estimated to be 158 (1999) and 117 (2000). Information on the use by local authorities of their powers under section 59 of the 1990 Act is not held centrally.

Waste Disposal

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government intend to take to reduce fly-tipping of tyres.

Michael Meacher: The Government have put in place strict controls to ensure that all waste, including waste tyres, is disposed of safely and the penalties for contravention of these controls are severe. The action being taken by the Government on fly-tipping, and other forms of illegal waste disposal, was set out most recently in the Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Report on the Environment Agency (Cm 4832paragraphs 5560). The Environment Agency is also developing a long-term programme to encourage the proper disposal of waste tyres.

Private Finance Initiative

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) PFI and (b) PPP contracts have been agreed by her Department over the last five years; how many have been satisfactorily completed; and in how many has compensation been (i) paid and (ii) claimed for performance failure.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Private Finance Initiative

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many PFI transactions have been overseen by her Department in each of the last 10 years; what her estimate is of the cost savings made in each of these transactions in comparison with the public sector alternative; what are the outstanding payments to be made in relation to these transactions for each of the next 15 years; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 20 July 2001
	The Department has signed contracts for four PFI projects in the last 10 years. Each contract is still on-going.
	The estimated total cost savings are:
	
		
			 Contract Saving 000s 
		
		
			 Broadland Flood Alleviation Scheme 5,40020,000 
			 Pevensey Bay Sea Defences 1,900 
			 Brooklands Avenue Cambridge 2,700 
			 Countryside Agency's SPIRIT (IT Services) 1,300 
		
	
	In addition to the above projects, the Department oversaw in the last 10 years eight waste management PFI projects where Local Authorities were the main contractors. Information on these projects is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Details of individual payouts to contractors under PFI contracts are usually regarded as commercially confidential. Aggregate figures of estimated payments under all PFI contracts for the years 200102 to 202526 were published in Table C18 of the Budget 2001 Red Book.

Private Finance Initiative

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the economic penalties imposed on private sector firms in each of the last five years for failures to deliver in relation to key performance indicators in projects involving the private finance initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 20 July 2001
	In each of the last five years the Department has not imposed any economic penalties on private sector firms for failures to deliver in relation to key performance indicators in projects involving the private finance initiative, as there have been no such failures.

Fruit Labelling

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce a more transparent system of labelling for top fruit.

Elliot Morley: EU marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables already lay down labelling requirements for top fruit throughout the marketing chain in respect of country of origin, class and variety. Amendments to these standards are considered from time to time as necessary.

Horticulture

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to exempt horticulturists from pesticide taxes.

Elliot Morley: There are no present plans to introduce a pesticides tax. In the 2001 Budget, the Government welcomed the latest set of voluntary proposals for reducing the environmental impact of pesticides use and invited the industry to implement the voluntary package nationwide. Progress will be reviewed in the run up to Budget 2002 to assess whether a voluntary approach is delivering significant environmental benefits, over and above those that would result from a pesticides tax.

Cleanaway Site, South Ockendon

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the accepted background level of dioxins in the environment is; what the deemed safe level is; what levels the Environment Agency has found at the Cleanaway site in South Ockendon; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The levels of dioxins in the urban environment are, roughly:
	Air: 100 femtograms per cubic metre
	Soil: 30 nanograms per kilogram
	Water: dioxins do not dissolve well in water so very low
	River sediments: 20 nanograms per kilogram.
	Most human exposure to dioxins is through food and currently average adult dietary intake is estimated to be 0.9 picograms per kilogram of body weight per day. This is within the WHO-recommended tolerable daily intake range (of 1 to 4 picograms per kilogram of body weight) and below the EC Scientific Committee on Food recommended tolerable weekly intake level (14 picograms per kilogram of body weight).
	The Environment Agency has not carried out any analysis of dioxins at the Cleanaway site in South Ockendon.
	Notes:
	Nanogramone thousand millionth of a gram (1 x 10- 9 g)
	Picogramone million millionth of a gram (1 x 10- 1 2 g)
	Femtogramone thousand million millionth of a gram (1 x 10- 1 5 g)

Cleanaway Site, South Ockendon

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what information the Environment Agency has collated as to how much fly ash deposited in the past 20 years in the Cleanaway site at South Ockendon, and the extent to which this dumping regime involved the ash being (a) damped down on site and (b) drenched prior to its arrival;
	(2)  how much fly ash in the past 20 years was (a) used for creating on-site roads of tracks at the Cleanaway site in South Ockendon and (b) used as cover for each day's dumping at this site.

Michael Meacher: Waste disposal sites operate under the terms of waste management licences and are subject to the controls set out in Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. The licence for each site sets out the types and quantities of waste which can be accepted for disposal at that site. The licence for the South Ockendon site is available for inspection on the public register which the Environment Agency is required to keep under section 64 of the 1990 Act.
	The Agency has not separately collated information on the amount of fly ash deposited or used for on-site roads or cover at the South Ockendon site. I understand that consignments of mixed fly ash and bottom ash were consigned from the Edmonton municipal waste incinerator to the South Ockendon site under the terms of the site's licence; and were classified and recorded by the licence holder as industrial waste. The Agency states that the deposit of this mixed ash at the site ceased in December 1997.
	The Environment Agency also states that the mixed ash from the Edmonton incinerator was drenched in water as it was produced. It is a condition of the licence for the South Ockendon site that
	Site roads shall, in dry weather, be sprayed with water to suppress dust.
	The Environment Agency is carrying out a thorough investigation into the destinations of ash from municipal waste incinerators, the environmental implications of its use and what steps may be needed in the light of these findings. A report will be published by the Agency on completion of its investigation.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the performance of the Eaga partnership in delivering under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 18 July 2001
	The Department maintains a close watch on the performance of both scheme managersEaga Partnership Limited and Eastern HEES Limited. This includes both regular management reports, and the use of an external contractorWhite Young and Greento audit the systems operated by the two scheme managers to ensure their effectiveness.
	The introduction of the radically improved Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in June 2000 represented a difficult challenge for both scheme managers. The national shortage of gas heating engineers has led to severe delays in some areas in the installation and repair of central heating systems. This problem is being tackled through the recruitment of additional installers and the training of 800 new engineers to work under the scheme. These measures have led to major improvements in the speed of work with over 2,800 boiler installations completed in June 2001, compared to 590 in January.
	The Department continues to maintain a close watch on the performance of both scheme managers to ensure that they provide a quality service to households applying to the scheme.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if energy efficiency targets set by the Government as part of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme are being met; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) provides households with packages of heating and insulation measures, tailored to the condition of the property and the householders' circumstances.
	The individual packages of measures were developed in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment and are designed to ensure that householders are no longer at risk from fuel poverty.
	Energy efficiency in homes is commonly measured using the standard assessment procedure (SAP). This is a fuel cost based rating system that is expressed on a scale of one (poor) to 100 (excellent).
	While there are no specific energy efficiency targets set within HEES, on average, homes are left with an average energy efficiency rating of SAP 59. The average improvement from the work is SAP 19.

Live Cattle Exports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost has been to UK public funds of subsidising the export of live cattle from the EU to the middle east and North Africa in the last five years.

Elliot Morley: During the 19992000 EU budget year, the EU spent approximately 110 million euros on export refunds for live cattle to all destinations. We do not have data for specific destinations. The UK Exchequer does not contribute directly to the cost of any agricultural expenditure from the EU budget, but contributes to the budget as a whole. The UK position is to argue for a reformed CAP and an end to such export subsidies.

Departmental Events

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) national and (b) international awareness events her Department has participated in since June 1997 in the form of (i) sponsorship, (ii) departmental attendance, (iii) similar departmental activities and (iv) a message of support.

Elliot Morley: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was not formed until 8 June 2001. Consequently, historical information for the years mentioned in the question is not available.

DEFRA Website

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of converting the MAFF website into the new DEFRA website.

Elliot Morley: The redesign of the MAFF website into the new DEFRA website was undertaken using internal resources. It is not possible to be precise about the extent of those indirect costs but they are estimated to be less than 10,000.

Farming

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers in (a) England and (b) Cumbria do no other farming activity except letting out their grass.

Elliot Morley: The information is not available.
	The annual June census asks farmers only to account for land that they actively farm themselves.

Farming

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to assist farmers whose only business is letting out their grass.

Elliot Morley: My officials are in touch with the Arthur Rank Foundation and with industry bodies about the work of the ARF's National Fodder Bureau and Government match funding for this charitable work. These discussions have included consideration of the prices and availability of fodder and grazing across the country.

Farming

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to represent non-farming and conservation interests on her Department's Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food.

Elliot Morley: Appointments to the independent Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, announced on 9 August, have been made by the Prime Minister. Members have been appointed in a personal capacity, not as representatives of particular groups, and reflect a wide range of interests, knowledge and expertise extending beyond farming and conservation.
	Full details of membership are on the Commission's website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/farming.

Farming

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce the level of bureaucracy for farmers.

Elliot Morley: We are very conscious of the need to reduce bureaucracy. While some regulation is unavoidable if the Government are to safeguard public and animal health, environmental matters or public funds, the aim is to keep regulation to a minimum. A major programme of work to streamline processes has been under way for the last 18 months since my right hon. Friend the former Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food asked the industry to identify particular problem areas. In Europe, too, we continue to seek greater simplification of regulations affecting farmers.
	Money has been saved in direct costs to industry as well as time saved in paperworkfor example, by implementing a simplified procedure for granting own-use approvals for imports of pesticides with a reduced fee, by streamlining intervention procedures and by better co-ordinated cattle inspections. We continue to implement the remaining recommendations from the Red Tape Reviews and the Better Regulation Task Force report on Environmental Regulation and Farmers.
	In addition, in common with other regulatory departments, we are preparing a Departmental Regulatory Reform Action Plan.

Absence

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days on average were lost per employee in his Department because of sickness; and how many officials retired early from his Department, in each of the past 10 years. [R]

Elliot Morley: This reply essentially reflects the position in the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Details are not readily available for the ex-DETR and Home Office groups who now form part of DEFRA.
	The Department does not maintain aggregated data on sickness absence but relies instead on a comprehensive analysis of sickness absence in the Civil Service which is produced annually by Cabinet Office. Copies of such reports are placed in House Libraries.
	In 1998 the Cabinet Office published a report 'Working Well TogetherManaging Attendance in the Public Sector' aimed at promoting wider awareness and use of the very best attendance management techniques in order to reduce sickness absence levels across the public sector. Following that report, the Department has designed a range of new sickness absence management procedures which it is currently in the process of rolling out across the Department.
	Responsibility for attendance matters within the Central Science Laboratory, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture Agencyall former MAFF agencieshas been delegated to the agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply direct. The Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate Agencies are covered by the departmental response.
	1,045 officials retired early from the former MAFF and its agencies in the 10 calendar years to 31 December 2000:
	1991: 33
	1992: 230
	1993: 50
	1994: 82
	1995: 231
	1996: 165
	1997: 94
	1998: 21
	1999: 72
	2000: 67.
	Letter from Michael Roberts to David Maclean, dated 24 September 2001
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Science Laboratory, to your question concerning sickness absence.
	Comprehensive analysis of sickness absence data for the Civil Service is provided in the annual Cabinet Office reports, copies of which are to be found in House Libraries. However for illustratory purposes sickness absence within Central Science Laboratory for the last four years is as follows:
	1998 = 6.65 days per employee
	1999 = 7.96 days per employee
	2000 = 6.39 days per employee
	2001 to date = 5.68 days per employee.
	Letter from Steve Edwards to David Maclean, dated September 2001
	The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on how many days on average were lost to the VLA because of sickness and how many officials retired early in each of the past 10 years.
	The Agency does not maintain aggregated data on sickness absence but relies instead on a comprehensive analysis of sickness absence in the Civil Service which is produced annually by the Cabinet Office. Copies of such reports are placed in House Libraries.
	In 1998 the Cabinet Office published a report Working Well TogetherManaging Attendance in the Public Sector aimed at promoting wider awareness and use of the very best attendance management techniques in order to reduce sickness absence levels across the public sector. Following that report the Agency reviewed the sickness absence management procedures and issued new guidance to staff and managers. We continue to keep procedures under review and introduce new practices where necessary.
	Details of the Agency staff who retired early are contained in the figures given for the former MAFF and its Agencies in the response given by DEFRA.
	Letter from Peter Greig-Smith to David Maclean, dated September 2001
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many days, on average, were lost due to sickness. I am replying on behalf of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
	The number of days lost per employee in CEFAS averages out, over the past six year, as nine days. However I would refer the Honourable Member to the annual Cabinet Office reports which provide a comprehensive analysis of sickness absence in the Civil Service, copies of which are to be found in House Libraries.
	This Agency's response to the second part of the Parliamentary Question on early retirements is to be included in the single reply in respect of the core-department and its agencies.

Viral Organisms

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work has been undertaken by her Department on infection control of viral organisms in the last five years.

Elliot Morley: An extensive research programme is in place to address the problem of infection by viral organisms in livestock.
	The rapid diagnosis and control of disease are fundamental aspects of the research programme together with epidemiological studies and work on pathogenicity and immunity. The programme of research covers a range of viral-induced diseases, including statutory and exotic diseases and those that are non-statutory or endemic within the UK.
	Several viral diseases are covered by this programme of research including foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever, influenza, rabies and Newcastle disease.

Meat Imports

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the advantages of using sniffer dogs at points of entry to the UK to detect illegal meat imports.

Elliot Morley: We are looking at a number of ways to improve our ability to detect illegal imports of agricultural products. We have not yet reached any decision on the most efficient and cost-effective approach.

Landfill Tax

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of landfill tax will be given to the local authorities which are responsible for waste management, in order to fund recycling initiatives in (a) the current year and (b) 200203.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2001
	Landfill site operators can contribute a proportion of landfill tax revenue to a range of projects via the landfill tax credit scheme. Under the rules of the scheme, local authorities cannot receive funding from this source. However, the hon. Member may be interested to note that up to 31 August 2001, 15 Environmental Bodies (EB's) based in the county of Essex had spent approximately 1.2 million on sustainable waste management related projects.
	The Government's policy, as set out in 'Waste Strategy 2000', is that the landfill tax credit scheme should be delivering an increase in recycling. The Treasury has subsequently issued indicative guidelines which said spend on sustainable waste management projects should increase to 65 per cent. of the credits available through the scheme, with at least a third of this being spent on recycling projects.
	In the 2001 Budget statement the Chancellor said that in the longer term the Government are attracted to replacing the scheme, in whole or in part, with a public expenditure programme. That remains the position, although we have made no decisions yet about abolishing or radically changing the existing scheme.

Southern Water

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will instruct Ofwat to require Southern Water to review the main sewer system in the Little Stove and Nailbourne Valley; and if he will publish the results.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2001
	Ofwat is an independent economic regulator of the water industry. The Secretary of State does issue periodic guidance to the Director General of Ofwat on regulatory issues, but his independent status means that we do not have the power to instruct or request specific actions from him.
	Each sewerage undertaker is required to maintain its network of sewers and set priorities for work where this is necessary. Although Ofwat sets price limits, which constrains the revenue available, it does not specify the particular programme of work the undertaker must carry out.

Combined Heat and Power

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the installed capacity for CHP is; and what she expects this to be in (a) 2005 and (b) 2010.

Michael Meacher: The DTI's recent UK Digest of Energy Statistics gives a figure of 4,632 MWe at the end of 2000 for Good Quality CHP capacity. At present, no projection of capacity for 2005 has been made. The Government have a target to more than double Good Quality CHP capacity to at least 10,000 MWe by 2010.

Combined Heat and Power

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further measures the Government plans to introduce to encourage the installation of CHP to ensure that the target of 10 GWe is reached by 2010.

Michael Meacher: The Department is developing, in close collaboration with DTI and other Departments, a draft CHP Strategy, which will set out the measures needed to achieve the CHP target by 2010.

Combined Heat and Power

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current installed capacity is for CHP; and what she expects this to be in 2005 and 2010.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2001
	The DTI's recent UK Digest of Energy Statistics gives a figure of 4,632 MWe at the end of 2000 for Good Quality CHP capacity. At present, no projection of capacity for 2005 has been made. The Government have a target to more than double Good Quality CHP capacity to at least 10,000 MWe by 2010.

Combined Heat and Power

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further measures the Government will introduce to encourage the installation of CHP to ensure that the target of 10 Gwe is reached by 2010.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2001
	The Department is developing, in close collaboration with DTI and other Departments, a draft CHP Strategy, which will set out the measures needed to achieve the CHP target by 2010.

Green Ministers

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the Green Minister for each Government Department.

Michael Meacher: The Green Ministers for each Government Department are as follows:
	
		
			 Name Department 
		
		
			 Right hon. Michael Meacher MP, Minister of State (Environment) (Chair) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
			 Right hon. Harriet Harman QC MP, Solicitor General Law Officers Department 
			 Right hon. Paul Boateng, Financial Secretary Treasury 
			 Peter Hain MP, Minister for Europe Foreign and Commonwealth Office 
			 Right hon. Alun Michael, Minister of State (Rural Affairs) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
			 Brian Wilson QC MP, Minister for Industry and Energy Department of Trade and Industry 
			 Right hon. Baroness Blackstone, Minister for the Arts Department for Culture, Media and Sport 
			 George Foulkes MP, Minister of State Scotland Office 
			 Christopher Leslie MP, Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Office 
			 Rosie Winterton MP, Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department 
			 Angela Eagle MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Home Office 
			 Hilary Benn MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for International Development 
			 Right hon. Baroness Hollis of Heigham, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Work and Pensions 
			 Dr. Alan Whitehead MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
			 Yvette Cooper MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department of Health 
			 Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Education and Skills 
			 Dr. Lewis Moonie MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Ministry of Defence 
			 Desmond Browne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Northern Ireland Office 
			 Don Touhig MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Wales Office

Environmental Appraisals

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many environmental appraisals have been produced and held on DEFRA's central database since it was established, broken down by Government Department.

Michael Meacher: Departments are required to publish all free-standing environmental appraisals of policies unless there are overriding reasons for not doing so (for example, security or commercial sensitivities). The Second Annual Report of the Green Ministers Committee, published in November 2000, included a list of free-standing environmental appraisals (Table 4.2). Since publishing this report, the Inland Revenue has carried out one further appraisal, published in 2001: DEFRA has received notification of a further 18 appraisals carried out in DETR up to February 2001.
	
		Total figures by Department
		
			  Department Number of published appraisals notified to DEFRA 
		
		
			 DETR 45 
			 DTI 4 
			 HMT 2 
			 Joint HMT, CE, DETR 1 
			 IR 2 
			 MOD 1

Power Plants (Fish)

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what research the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has undertaken to evaluate the success of fish deterrent systems, with particular reference to bubble screens and acoustic devices in reducing entrapment;
	(2)  what action the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has taken to enforce juvenile protection zones for bass in UK estuaries;
	(3)  what estimate the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has made of the number of (a) juvenile and (b) protected fish killed each year by cooling water intakes at power stations;
	(4)  how much money the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has spent over the last 10 years on research into fish deterrent systems to reduce the loss of fish in power plant cooling systems;
	(5)  what research projects the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has undertaken into the loss of fish in power plant cooling systems;
	(6)  what meetings she has held with (a) her French counterparts and (b) the US Environmental Protection Agency to discuss juvenile fish killed by cooling water intakes at power stations;
	(7)  what information the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has collected on the number of coastal or estuarine power stations that (a) reduce their pumping rates to avoid killing fish and (b) use fish deterrent systems or acoustic devices.

Elliot Morley: The development and testing of fish deterrent systems has been carried out by those interested in the operational side of power station cooling plants. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has not therefore been directly involved. Neither are we aware of the extent to which mitigation measures are applied around the country. This is a matter for the power station operators themselves.
	The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has worked with staff of the former CEGB and the Environment Agency in monitoring fish impingement in a number of coastal power stations since the early 1970s. In general, this monitoring has indicated that the mortality caused in marine fish by power stations is small by comparison with the widespread distribution of these species and the overriding impact of natural mortality and additional fishing mortality.
	In 1983, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science conducted an investigation to estimate the losses of commercial fish species (sprat, herring, cod, whiting, dab, sole and plaice) at Sizewell 'A' power station. These fish kills were calculated to the between 0.01 and 0.08 per cent. of commercial catches in the southern North Sea. A further study of the mortality of juvenile bass at Kingsnorth power station in the Medway Estuary in 198788 concluded that the mortality of first year bass during peak impingement in autumn and winter was around 15 per cent. of the population in the immediate vicinity of the power station. This is significantly less than the percentage of juveniles which die as a result of predation, disease and even starvation in their first winter. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has since withdrawn from such monitoring.
	To date, the Secretary of State has not held any meetings with her international counterparts about this particular problem.
	The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science is not responsible for enforcement of the legislation relating to bass nursery areas. This is conducted by the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate, Sea Fisheries Committees and the Environment Agency.

IACS Forms

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy not to impose penalties on farmers where errors on integrated administration and control system forms lead to an underclaim.

Elliot Morley: Penalties are not normally applied to errors that lead to an underclaim. Where there are different rates of aid for different crop groups within a claim there can be a large underclaim in one crop group and a smaller overclaim in another so in global area terms there is an underclaim. However, penalties would still be applied to the overclaim.

Winter Feeding Assistance

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will provide financial assistance to farmers to help with feeding their animals over the winter.

Elliot Morley: My officials are in touch with the Arthur Rank Foundation and with industry bodies about the work of the ARF's National Fodder Bureau and Government match funding for this charitable work.

Agricultural Development Advisory Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the average cost is to public funds, per journey, of ADAS monitoring transport from farm to slaughterhouse; and what the average cost is, per journey, for livestock transported from the Isle of Wight;
	(2)  what the value is of her contracts with ADAS for monitoring the transport of livestock from farm to slaughterhouse;
	(3)  what proportion of journeys of livestock from farm to slaughterhouse ADAS is required to monitor under contract from her Department.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 July 2001
	The Department does not have a contract with ADAS to monitor the transport of livestock from farm to slaughterhouse. Temporary arrangements were operated, under ADAS supervision, to allow livestock from the Devon Infected Area to move to a slaughterhouse outside that Infected Area.
	As part of a general contract to provide assistance for Foot and Mouth Disease issues, ADAS monitors the transport of livestock moving for welfare reasons under a Longer Distance Movement Licence.

Slaughter and Disposal Scheme Applications

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications under (a) the over-30-months scheme and (b) the welfare scheme have been outstanding with her Department for (i) more than one week, (ii) two to four weeks, (iii) four to six weeks and (iv) more than six weeks.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 July 2001
	Both the Over-30-Months (Slaughter) Scheme (OTMS) and the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme are administered by the Intervention Board (IB).
	(a) No applications are required to be made to IB in respect of OTMS. Entry to the scheme is via a booking system operated by participating abattoirs. The latest survey of this list shows that approximately 50,000 head have been booked in and are awaiting slaughter. This represents around three weeks throughput at current levels.
	(b) All applications under Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme (LW(D)S) received at the Intervention Board are scrutinised by a team of experts from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) within seven days of receipt. Each application is checked for eligibility and, if acceptable under the scheme, is prioritised for slaughter. An application for which no additional information is required will normally be slaughtered within about 14 days. In the most urgent of welfare cases slaughter can be arranged within 48 hours of application. Where there is insufficient information supporting the application or further clarification is required, the applicant is asked to provide this. In turn this may require applicants to seek information from other sources. The application will be approved or rejected once this information is available. The length of time it takes to reach that stage is dependent on the speed with which applicants reply to any request for further information.

Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if interest will be paid on payments outstanding following the 21-day window for slaughter under the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme.

Elliot Morley: When the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme was opened in March, the Intervention Board said it would aim to make payments within 21 days of slaughter. There has been enormous demand for the scheme, with over 1.5 million animals having been slaughtered and over 15,000 claims amounting to 175 million paid. The number of applications far exceeded all forecasts at the time the scheme was introduced. In addition, the increasing complexity of the eligibility rules as movement restrictions were lifted and the large number of points in the disposal chain from which documentation had to be returned have contributed to delays in payments of claims. These delays are regrettable but in the circumstances unavoidable.
	I am pleased to say that the Intervention Board has now cleared its backlog of claims and is making payments on over 90 per cent. of claims which do not require any further investigation within 28 days of slaughter. Against the background of logistical difficulties and unanticipated volumes already referred to, payment of interest is not considered appropriate.

Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the steps she intends to take to speed up payments made under the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme.

Elliot Morley: Steps have already been taken by the Intervention Board to enhance payment performance. Currently over 90 per cent. of claims not subject to query or investigation are being paid within 28 days of slaughter.

Fodder and Grazing

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the price and availability of (a) fodder and (b) grazing for livestock (i) nationally and (ii) on the Isle of Wight.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 July 2001
	My officials are in touch with the Arthur Rank Foundationand with industry bodies about the work of the ARF's National Fodder Bureau and Government match funding for this charitable work. These discussions have included consideration of the prices and availability of fodder and grazing across the country.

Set-aside

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much farming land is in set-aside land in the UK.

Elliot Morley: The area of land set-aside in the UK under the Arable Area Payments Scheme in 2001 is provisionally assessed as 844,805 hectares.

Correspondence

Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 26 March on behalf of his constituent Mrs. Hall.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July
	I replied to the right hon. Member's letter on 21 August.

Correspondence

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what target she has set for the length of time her Department takes to answer letters from (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has set different targets for the length of time that the DEFRA may take to reply to correspondence from hon. Members and members of the public.
	The Department's target for responding to letters from hon. Members is 15 working days. This is also the Department's target for replying to correspondence from members of the public, except in the regional offices of the Rural Payments Agency and the Rural Development Service, where the target is 10 working days.

MAFF Officials

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials previously employed by MAFF were not transferred to her Department.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 20 July 2001
	All officials previously employed by MAFF were transferred to the new Department.

Building Materials (Dioxins)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the report into the dioxin levels in building materials will be published; if she will place the report in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	The Environment Agency currently expects to complete its investigation into the production and fates of solid residues from municipal waste incinerators in December. The results will be published shortly afterwards, and a copy of the report will be placed in the Library in due course.

Lambs

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to address the impact on animal welfare of farmers being unable to sell this year's light lamb crop as a result of the continuation of the export ban.

Elliot Morley: The Government have taken steps to avoid welfare problems being developed by lambs that have no market outletprincipally light lambs, nearly all of which go to the export trade. The livestock welfare disposal scheme has been extended to pre-empt a welfare situation developing among light lamb. 10 per lamb will be paid. It has to be clear to the farming industry that this is a one-off schemeit will not be repeated next yearso decisions have to be based on that in terms of breeding plans for next year. Our priority is to ensure that we encourage as far as possible the sale of lambs into the food chain.

Lambs

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with the Rural Affairs Secretary at the National Assembly concerning the likely trend in lamb prices during the autumn.

Elliot Morley: Ministers in this Department are in regular contact with their opposite numbers in the devolved Administrations on a wide range of topics, including the market prospects for lamb.

Lambs

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government estimate, the buying up of lighter lambs will cost in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 (i) in total and (ii) per lamb.

Elliot Morley: Under the Light Lamb Scheme introduced from September 2001, the Government are prepared to pay 10 for the buying up of light lambs for which there is currently no export market because of the foot and mouth export ban. This could cost up to 25 million in purchase costs but estimates of uptake are uncertain. The scheme will not operate in 2002. We expect farmers to seek to sell lambs into the food chain as their first priority.

Farmland Birds

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to seek to increase the numbers of farmland birds.

Elliot Morley: This Department has a Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to reverse the long-term decline in the number of farmland birds by 2020. A number of existing policy measures will help to achieve that targetnot least the significant expansion of our agri-environment schemes under the England Rural Development Programme. However, we recognise that the reasons for the decline in farmland bird numbers are complex and we have commissioned research from the British Trust for Ornithology and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to help us identify more precisely what needs to be done to deliver the PSA target.

Fly Tipping

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment the Government have made of the occurrence of fly tipping; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The action being taken by the Government on fly tipping, and other forms of unlawful waste disposal, was set out most recently in the Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Report on the Environment Agency (Cm 4832paragraphs 5560).

Wetlands

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when a water Bill, including provision to protect wetland habitats, will be introduced; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had with the RSPB on the future of wetlands.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	We will introduce the Water Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows. The Bill will contain provision to improve water resources management and stronger powers to deal with abstractions that are causing environmental damage.
	The Department is routinely in discussion with RSPB on a range of wetland related issues. In particular, RSPB is a member of the UK Ramsar Committee chaired by the Department which meets every six months to take an overview of the UK's implementation of the Convention on Wetlands.

Wetlands

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of which breeds of birds depend on wetlands for survival in the United Kingdom.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	My statutory scientific advisers on wildlife conservation, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, conduct work on assessing bird populations of wetland areas throughout the UK. We know from surveys and research that many different species of bird depend on wetland habitats for their survival. To allow thorough assessment of these species throughout the year, several different national surveys are carried out regularly and are complemented by occasional special surveys.
	For example, the Wetland Bird Survey is a long-running survey of all waterbird species on UK wetlands (2,000 sites are surveyed in every month from September to March of each year). It is run in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Wetlands

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which breeds of birds are at risk from threats to wetland areas.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	All species of bird that depend upon wetland habitats at any time of the year are at risk from threats to those habitats. Several wetland birds, such as the bittern, aquatic warbler and reed bunting, are regarded as priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and Species Action Plans have been agreed that outline the conservation actions needed. The Government have taken a variety of steps to conserve wetland habitats, including designation as Ramsar sites, Special Protection Areas, and Sites (or Areas) of Special Scientific Interest. A variety of schemes provide positive management incentives.

Departmental Contracts

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the top 10 companies to which her Department contracted out their construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months.

Elliot Morley: The top 10 companies to which the Department contracted out construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months as defined by the values of the contracts being undertaken for the Department are as follows:
	Kajima Cambridge Ltd. (PFI scheme)
	Kier Construction Ltd.
	Chase Norton Ltd.
	Keller Engineering Ltd.
	Bryen Langley Ltd.
	Clean Room Construction Ltd.
	Barnes  Elliott Ltd.
	Thomas Armstrong Ltd.
	Walter Lilley Construction Ltd.
	Symons Construction Ltd.

Organic Produce

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU partners on ensuring common standards for organic produce; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have had no such discussions, but my officials are in regular contact with our European partners in respect of the enforcement and development of the common standards for organic production laid down by Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 as amended.

Milk Prices

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to increase the price of milk.

Elliot Morley: None, the price of milk is entirely a matter for the commercial market.

Reprotech

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many complaints to the Environment Agency have been made since 1997 in respect of the Reprotech site at Pebsham, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library the results of the Environment Agency emissions tests carried out at the Reprotech site, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex since 1997;
	(3)  how many Environment Agency unannounced inspections of the Reprotech site at Pebsham, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex have been carried out since 1997.

Michael Meacher: As of 19 September, 117 complaints had been made to the Environment Agency since the beginning of 1997 in respect of the Reprotech site at Pebsham, Bexhill on Sea. From 1997 to date the Environment Agency has carried out 46 inspections of the site, 18 of which have been unannounced. Throughout this period the company has been compliant from a regulatory point of view. Results of the company's emissions monitoring from 1997 to date will be placed in the House Library.

Wildlife Crime

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will refer proposed changes to the bird registration system, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime for comments;
	(2)  pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) of 17 July 2001, Official Report, column 170W, on wildlife crime birds of prey, if she will (a) give a commitment to the retention of the bird registration system for species currently listed and (b) consider adding globally endangered species threatened by trade to the system;
	(3)  how many convictions for possession of birds listed on Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which have relied on DNA samples as evidence, have been successful; and for how many of these her Department provided registration details, maintained under section 7 of the Act, to the police;
	(4)  what fees are charged to birdkeepers by her Department for registration of birds listed on Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and to what extent these fees cover the cost of running the registration scheme.

Michael Meacher: There have been a total of 15 convictions for possession of birds listed on Schedule 4 of the Act, which have relied on DNA evidence. DEFRA released information from the database, held under section 7 of the Act, in relation to each of these convictions.
	The fees charged to bird keepers are set out as follows. In 200001 the income generated covered 18.4 per cent. of the costs of running the registration service.
	
		Birds of prey
		
			  Non-club members Recognised club members Zoo federation members 
		
		
			 Renewal of properly registered birds 9 per bird 7 per bird 7 per bird 
			 Registration of new birds 20 per monitored bird 14 per monitored bird 14 per monitored bird 
			  9 per non-monitored bird 7 per non-monitored bird 7 per non-monitored bird 
			 Transfers (payable by recipient) 17 for every bird 17 for every bird 17 for every bird received from non Federation members(107) 
		
	
	(107) No charge if received from federation members
	Other Birds
	Renewal of properly registered birds: 1 per bird up to a maximum of 25
	Registration of new birds: 6 per bird
	Transfers (payable by recipient): 6 for every bird.
	As to the future of the bird registration system, including its scope, we shall be consulting widely before reaching any decisions, and so I cannot give any commitments about the eventual outcome. The consultation process will certainly include the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime who represent an important section of the law enforcement community.

Abandoned Vehicles (Stroud)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vehicles have been abandoned and had to be disposed of in each of the last two years in the Stroud district; and what was the cost of disposal in each year.

Michael Meacher: This is a matter for Stroud district council. The Department currently holds no central records of either the number of vehicles abandoned each year or local authorities' costs in disposing of them.
	Information on the number of abandoned vehicles removed by local authorities is being collected in the Department's 200001 Municipal Waste Management Survey.

Live Animal Exports

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the transport of live animals.

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve the conditions for animals which are exported alive; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Our policy on the transport of live animals is rigorously to enforce the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 and to negotiate for the highest possible animal welfare standards on an EU-wide basis. We are currently pursuing this objective in EU Council Working Groups on both the EU Directive on the protection of animals during transport and the Regulation on the standards for vehicles used for the long distance transport of livestock. But where possible, we believe that meat, rather than live animals, should be transported over long distances.

Officials (Practical Experience)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in her Department (a) in London and (b) in Leeds have (i) working and practical experience of farming and (ii) working and practical experience of veterinary practice.

Elliot Morley: This information is not recorded and is available only at disproportionate cost.

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Elliot Morley: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 The current year  
			 Building  
			 Great Orton Containment Wall 4.2 
			 DEFRA Drayton TSE/BSE Buildings 5.0 
			 DEFRA Old Rectory TSE/BSE Buildings 2.1 
			 VLA Weybridge Redevelopment Work 3.0 
			 Refurbishment  
			 Ergon House 4.1 
			 Cromwell House 1.2 
			   
			 The next financial year  
			 Building  
			 VLA Weybridge Redevelopment Phase I 24.5 
			 Cambridge, Redevelopment of Government Offices PFI scheme 
			 Refurbishment  
			 9 Millbank 2.3

Pheasants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she intends to take to ensure that animal welfare standards applicable to agricultural practice apply equally to (a) pheasant rearing and (b) pheasant shooting when carried out as sporting activities.

Elliot Morley: The Protection of Animals Act 1911 applies to captive pheasants. There are no plans to extend the 1911 Act to birds that have been released for sporting activities.

Metal Deposits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of threats posed by the metal deposits to (a) humans and (b) livestock;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the recent study by the University of Wales of dangerous levels of mineral deposits from lead and copper mines in the rivers Swale and Ouse and in other areas of the Vale of York and in particular the grasslands bordering these rivers; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what action her Department is taking over the discovery of toxic metal deposits on North Yorkshire farmland, deposited following the floods of 2000.

Michael Meacher: We understand that the results of a study by the University of Wales at Aberystwyth into metal levels in river sediments deposited on floodplains in Swaledale have not yet been published. However, from the information so far available it appears that the lead levels found are similar to those found in previous studies in this area, where elevated levels of lead are sometimes found as a result of natural geology and historical mining activities. This is well known in the area and has been the subject of advice to local farmers in the past which has proved effective. Farmers can minimise risks to livestock from these deposits by simple good husbandry practices, to minimise the ingestion of soil by animals as they feed. The Food Standards Agency's standing advice is that these measures should also be effective in minimising any risks to consumers of foods produced by animals in these areas. The Veterinary Laboratories Agency have recorded no increases in livestock health problems that could be linked to the recent flooding.
	A new European Commission Regulation ((EC) 466/2001), setting maximum limits for lead and cadmium in food and due to come into force on 5 April 2002, will introduce limits for cadmium in offal for the first time in the UK, and a lower limit for lead in offal than the current UK limit. The Food Standards Agency will be carrying out formal consultation on these proposals later this year. In parallel, it will be consulting Government and other stakeholders on whether any further guidance to farmers may be appropriate to help minimise any risks that offal from animals raised in areas where elevated levels of lead in soil occur could exceed these new limits.
	The Department will assess the full results of this study when they are available, seeking advice from the Food Standards Agency on food safety issues. A risk assessment will be completed, and all the appropriate public authorities will be involved in the consideration of the findings.

Fisheries Statistics

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of fish was (a) landed and (b) discarded in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the European Union in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: Details of fish landings into the UK in 2000 are published in Section 3 of United Kingdom Sea Fisheries Statistics 1999 and 2000. This is available in the House of Commons Library.
	Only incomplete information on landings into other member states of the EU is currently available, as set out.
	
		Fish landings into national ports of other member states of the EU 19982999
		
			Tonnes product weight  
			  1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Belgium 18,795 18,608 17,988 
			 Denmark 1,721,906 1,064,418 1,144,089 
			 Germany 107,528   
			 Greece 100,549 97,423 90,380 
			 Spain 1,106,113 949,906  
			 France 293,347 265,772 276,256 
			 Eire
			 Italy 291,540 263,169 295,096 
			 Netherlands 543,474 523,249 508,972 
			 Portugal 208,464 183,754  
			 Finland 71,882 52,563 67,690 
			 Sweden 391,067 326,756 314,330 
			  
			 Total 4,854,665 3,745,618 2,714,801 
		
	
	Source:
	Eurostat
	Comparable figures of the total quantities of fish discarded either by vessels from the UK or by those from other member states are not available. The majority of discards are undersized and unmarketable fish.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what impact the foot and mouth outbreak has had on (a) regular tuberculosis testing of cattle and (b) the culling of badgers for the study of TB.

Elliot Morley: Routine TB testing of cattle has been suspended since late February and there is now a backlog of TB tests to be completed.
	The effect of foot and mouth disease on the culling trial was considered by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB in its Third Report, and they concluded that:
	it will be unavoidable that the recent food and mouth disease outbreak, which affects directly some of the trial areas, will have an impact on our work. The inevitable effect will be to extend the time needed to complete the work programme. It will also make some analyses more difficult. However, at this stage we consider the impact to be manageable and also we do have the flexibility to readjust some of the final trial areas.

Flood Defences

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the guidance given by (a) DEFRA and (b) the Environment Agency to district councils and county councils to deal with a rise in sea level and flooding as a result of climate change.

Elliot Morley: The Government have provided specific guidance in relation to predicted sea level rise to all flood and coastal defence authorities since 1989. In December 1999 the guidance was reviewed, and promulgated in Flood and Coastal Defence Project Appraisal Guidance Volume 3Economic Appraisal (FDPAG3, MAFF Publication PB 4650). In March 2000 guidance on potential changes in river flooding was provided in Flood and Coastal Defence Project Appraisal Guidance Volume 4Approaches to Risk (FCDPAG4, MAFF Publication PB 4907).

Flood Defences

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent and division of Governmental responsibility for flood prevention; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Flood defence is a fully devolved matter. DEFRA has policy responsibility for flood defence in England; the devolved Administrations have responsibility in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	Operating authorities are responsible for delivery of the flood defence service in England. The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority and exercises a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence. Following the creation of DEFRA, the Department now has policy responsibility for all of the functions of the Environment Agency in England.
	We are currently conducting a review of the funding arrangements in England and this may lead to consideration of the related institutional arrangements for delivering the service.

Flood Defences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will announce the conclusions of her review of the effectiveness of the Flood Defence Committee arrangements.

Elliot Morley: The conclusions of the review of flood and coastal defence funding arrangements will be published later this autumn.

Rural Businesses

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rural businesses have closed since 3 May.

Alun Michael: There is no measure of the number of rural businesses which have closed in any given period but 54 businesses in which a bankruptcy or compulsory winding-up order was made between 12 April and 31 August have stated that foot and mouth disease was a cause of the insolvency.
	In September we commissioned survey work to shed light on the economic impact of foot and mouth disease in selected rural areas. Around 40 per cent. of businesses in areas with widespread outbreaks of foot and mouth disease report being adversely affected, compared with 15 per cent. in areas with few or no outbreaks. Among affected businesses, 44 per cent. describe the impact as severe or very severe, with 21 per cent. reporting the loss of over half normal sales revenue between March and August. While most affected businesses report that they remain profitable, 13 per cent. report that an expected profit has turned to loss due to foot and mouth disease. However, two-thirds expect to be back to business as usual by mid-2002. We will publish the final report when it is complete later.

Illegal Meat Imports

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much illegal meat was (a) imported into the UK and (b) confiscated from ports and airports in the last six months.

Elliot Morley: It is not possible to determine how much illegally imported meat was brought into the UK in the last six months. In that period we have received 849 reports of seizures of illegally imported animal products. The amount seized is not recorded in every case but the total weight notified is approximately 20 tonnes.

Departmental Staff Training

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what training is given to DEFRA staff who are in direct contact with the public.

Elliot Morley: For staff who have direct contact with the public, a set of relevant courses are offered in DEFRA's core training programme or locally. Staff identify their development and training needs with their managers using the Department's competence framework and undertake the appropriate training. In addition, at group level key skills are identified and staff trained accordingly.

Animal Disease Scientific Study

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the scientific study into animal disease to make its recommendations.

Elliot Morley: The Royal Society has announced that it expects to make recommendations by summer 2002.

Diversification

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms have diversified in 2001 to date.

Alun Michael: It is impossible to give a simple figure in answer to this question as diversification comes in many forms, not all requiring official approval or financial support from the Government. The Government do provide support for farm diversification, including aid made available through the Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES), part of the England Rural Development Programme. 365 RES applications involving farm diversification activities had been received this year by 31 August.

Nuclear Power

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role nuclear power will play in the UK's climate change strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 July 2001, Official Report, column 282W. The Government published the consultation document on radioactive waste policy mentioned in the previous answer on 12 September 2001, and this has been made available in the Libraries of the House.

Sellafield

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list 
	(1)  the contracts for the supply of MOX fuel from Sellafield;
	(2)  the customers who gave information to Arthur D. Little about their intentions to order mixed oxide fuel for Sellafield.

Michael Meacher: No. This information was excluded from the version of the Arthur D. Little report which we published on 27 July, because we concluded that publication would cause unreasonable damage to British Nuclear Fuels' commercial operations or to the economic case for the Sellafield MOX plant itself. The only customers specifically identified in the report, E.on of Germany and OKG of Sweden, had already publicised their commercial arrangements with the company.

Pennine Bridleway

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the Pennine Bridleway in Cumbria.

Alun Michael: holding answer 2 July 2001
	I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 9 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Country Sports

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Government have made of the financial value of country sports in the last financial year.

Alun Michael: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 28 September 2001, and placed a copy in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the official scientific advice on the cause of the Settle/Clitheroe foot and mouth hotspot has been revised since a pattern of spread down the Ribble and Aire river valleys has been established.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The Settle/Clitheroe outbreak began in the middle of May. The Department's epidemiologists' initial assessment was that the outbreak was caused by infection established in sheep and/or cattle from the movement of people, vehicles etc. from an infected area. However, further epidemiological investigation of the cases making up this outbreak suggests that infection has been present in the sheep population in the northern part of this cluster for some time. Infection is now believed to have been spread to the area by sheep via untraced sheep from Hawes market, or untraced sheep from Longtown market or via an intermediary market, holding or dealer in which disease was not manifested clinically or in which clinical signs were not observed.
	This re-appraisal of the cause of the outbreak has not been influenced by the spread of disease down the Ribble and Aire river valleys. Following the initial introduction of infection, normal, seasonal sheep husbandry activities resulted in infection being transmitted to cattle making infection in the area obvious.
	Further spread is thought to have been caused by the movements of people, vehicles and licensed movements of animals.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she proposes to visit (a) the Great Orton site, (b) the Hespin Wood site, (c) Longtown, (d) Wigton, (e) Penrith, (f) Shap, (g) Appleby-in-Westmorland, (h) Kirkby Stephen and (i) Glenridding in Cumbria; and what steps she will take to meet people affected by the foot and mouth disease outbreak;
	(2)  how many farms in Cumbria were infected by sheep from Gerwyn Abattoir at the start of the foot and mouth outbreak;
	(3)  what recent representations she has received from the RSPCA on foot and mouth disease;
	(4)  when she will publish the complete list of farmers in each county of the UK who had animals killed as a result of foot and mouth, broken down into categories of (a) infected premises, (b) direct contacts, (c) slaughter on suspicion, (d) contiguous cull and (e) voluntary cull, indicating the numbers of (i) cattle, (ii) sheep and (iii) pigs as appropriate;
	(5)  how many farmers (a) appealed against their stock valuations within the 14-day period and (b) have notified her Department that they disagree with their valuation but are outside the 14-day period;
	(6)  what is her estimate of the number of (a) cattle and (b) sheep disposed of in (i) the Great Orton site and (ii) the Hespin Wood site;
	(7)  how many (a) cattle and (b) sheep have been brought in from outside Cumbria for disposal at the Great Orton and Hespin Wood sites;
	(8)  how many farmers are waiting for compensation for (a) animals slaughtered for reasons connected with foot and mouth disease and (b) work done on the Department's behalf; and what the date of the oldest outstanding claim is.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 4 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what participation United Kingdom officials had in the Office International des Epizooties meeting on foot and mouth disease, held in Paris from 18 to 21 June.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 4 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what advice her Department gives farmers on how to clean a field that has held infested livestock;
	(2)  on what basis premises subject to contingency foot and mouth culling are decided.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 4 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much financial compensation has been paid to farmers as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak at the latest date for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 4 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what levels of dioxin releases were experienced from the burning of animal carcases during the foot and mouth crisis; and what measures were taken to ameliorate the effects of such releases.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 July 2001
	I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 4 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many animals have been slaughtered in the categories (a) infected premises, (b) direct contacts, (c) contiguous cull, (d) slaughter on suspicion and (e) voluntary cull in each county in England, Wales and Scotland;
	(2)  what action he has taken to examine and improve enforcement of existing import controls at all points of entry as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak;
	(3)  how much compensation has been paid to farmers whose stock has been culled on the grounds of (a) infected premises, (b) contiguous premises, (c) direct contact and (d) the 3km cull policy;
	(4)  if she will assess the consequential losses suffered by farmers unaffected by culls who farm in a restricted area; and if she will establish a recovery programme for such farmers;
	(5)  what assessment the Government have made of the contamination of water tables as a result of mass livestock burial;
	(6)  what assessment the Government have made of the discovery of blisters found in the mouths of livestock during the foot and mouth outbreak but unconnected to the disease; and what impact they have had on efforts to diagnose the virus;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the consequential losses suffered by farmers whose animals are over 30 months old and are unable to proceed with the over 30-month-scheme; and if he will make them eligible for compensation;
	(8)  upon what basis the Government decided not to use vaccination in their efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease;
	(9)  what assessment the Government have made of their decision not to use vaccination as an option to eradicate foot and mouth disease;
	(10)  in what circumstances farmers and others were asked to sign secrecy or confidentiality agreements with her Department in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic;
	(11)  what consideration the Government have given to providing compensation to those farmers who have not had livestock subjected to a cull but whose businesses have been severely affected by movement restrictions;
	(12)  how many foot and mouth suspected cases that resulted in slaughter on suspicion (a) in Cumbria and (b) nationally subsequently received negative results from blood tests;
	(13)  what representations have been made to the Government by temporary veterinary staff about the efficacy of the (a) biosecurity measures taken by the agricultural industry, (b) disinfecting operation and (c) contiguous cull operation;
	(14)  what strategy the Government plan to put in place to alleviate the effect on employment in farming communities arising from the foot and mouth outbreak;
	(15)  if the official figures for foot and mouth disease include calves and lambs slaughtered;
	(16)  how many (a) firms of contractors and (b)  individuals are engaged in the dismantling, disinfection and reassembly of milking parlours on farms in Cumbria;
	(17)  if she will make a statement on her latest plans to save hefted sheep flocks in the Lake District;
	(18)  how many animals have been slaughtered as a result of being classified as contiguous to premises which were confirmed as infected with foot and mouth and later received negative blood test results;
	(19)  what percentage of suspect cases reported in Cumbria as foot and mouth were tested; and how many of those farms received a positive test reaction;
	(20)  when she will (a) send every farm from which samples were taken for foot and mouth disease testing a copy of the results of the tests and (b) publish those results together with the names, addresses and holding numbers of the farms;
	(21)  what arrangements her Department made on the ground to ensure the accuracy of numbers of sheep taken in the voluntary cull in Cumbria.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans she has to stop the spread of foot and mouth disease in (a) Vale of York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb inspection policy will be revised to reflect the difficulties encountered by farmers with 'D' notice restrictions in selling their stock in the aftermath of foot and mouth disease; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what proportion of livestock slaughtered from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease to 30 June (a) from holdings identified as infected and (b) from contiguous holdings, are estimated to have been infected with foot and mouth disease, in each county of England and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many livestock were slaughtered from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease to 30 June from (a) holdings identified as infected and (b) contiguous holdings, in (i) each county of England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the locations of the (a) burial sites, (b) rendering plants, (c) incinerators, (d) licensed landfills and (e) pyres that have been used to dispose of carcases from the foot and mouth outbreak, indicating the dates when each location was in use and the estimated number of carcases.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what records are maintained of visits to farms by her Department's vets carrying out precautionary inspections;
	(2)  what the average rate of (a) false negatives and (b) false positives in foot and mouth samples is from (i) cattle, (ii) sheep and (iii) deer;
	(3)  what the statutory basis is for setting a 14-day limit on farmers appealing against valuations of their stock;
	(4)  which lists of farmers included in the (a) 3km cull, (b) direct contact, (c) slaughter on suspicion and (d) contiguous culls have been circulated to (i) individuals and (ii) organisations outside Government Departments.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 8 August, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on lifting the form D notices in (a) south Lancashire and (b) Lancashire;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the continuation of form D notices in south Lancashire;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the lifting of D restrictions in the Chorley constituency.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk of the new foot and mouth outbreak in Brecon spreading to Herefordshire and Worcestershire; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to raise the level of insurance cover against future foot and mouth and other animal disease epidemics in the livestock farming industry.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 6 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what measures she will take to ensure that local roads are closed when culling is taking place;
	(2)  what representations she has received that those involved in the culls are not observing the strict biosecurity measures;
	(3)  what representations she has received on actions by her officials on an infected site covered by her Department's biosecurity provisions;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the impact on Thirsk Auction Mart of its closure as a collection centre; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what criteria are used to decide on road closures in an infected zone; and if she will make a statement;
	(6)  what representations she has received on the three kilometre restriction zone from an infected premises.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 8 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food purchased railway sleepers prior to the foot and mouth outbreak;
	(2)  how much coal was bought by MAFF as part of contingency plans in the past five years;
	(3)  how many farms in the United Kingdom were not culled as a result of appeals or interventions by owners of livestock;
	(4)  what assessment the Government have made of the source of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and what provisions have been put in place to avert another outbreak;
	(5)  how many (a) lorry loads of sheep were collected from farms in the voluntary cull, (b) receipts were given by collection staff to farmers and (c) copies were published of the standard receipt/official collection documents;
	(6)  what verification procedures were undertaken by her Department at (a) Carlisle, (b) Page Street and (c) Alnwick before compensation for animals slaughtered on an IP was paid out.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 13 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the contingency plans which have been put in place in the event of a significant increase in the incidence of new cases of foot and mouth; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 13 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will review the compensation arrangements for farmers who have not had an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, but are unable to move their stock because they are under official D notice restrictions; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 13 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the animal welfare implications of the methods of disposal chosen for animals culled under the foot and mouth programme, where such disposal was undertaken by members of the armed forces.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 July 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 13 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans were in place for vaccination prior to the foot and mouth outbreak; and when those plans had been made.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 15 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the contractors under contract to her Department in (a) Cumbria and (b) England.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 17 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to respond to the recommendations of the task force of the hills; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 3 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much foot and mouth has cost the rural economy to date.

Alun Michael: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 3 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much financial assistance is available to businesses in Cumbria to help them survive foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: I replied to the right hon. Member by letter on 9 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the damage to the agricultural and tourism sectors of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 11 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what scientific advice the Government have commissioned that contradicts aspects of the Government's foot and mouth slaughter policy; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what divergence there has been between the projected number of daily foot and mouth outbreaks as presented by the chief Government adviser on 3 May and the actual number of outbreaks;
	(3)  what the Government's current assessment is of the scientific assumptions that underpinned the Government's foot and mouth strategy as set out at the end of March;
	(4)  on whose recommendation the change to the Government's slaughter policy in respect of foot and mouth, announced on 26 April, was made; and if she will make public the advice given on this matter;
	(5)  if she will publish in full the advice sought and received from Professor Paul Kitching with regard to the Government's foot and mouth strategy.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 25 June 2001
	I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 19 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the money generated annually from country shooting her Department estimates will be lost this year as a result of foot and mouth disease restrictions.

Alun Michael: holding answer 20 July 2001
	I replied to my hon. Friend on 28 September 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) numbers are of all deer found (i) dead and (ii) slaughtered on suspicion of foot and mouth; and what the results of laboratory tests were on these deer.

Elliot Morley: Seventy-one samples have been taken from deer that were found dead and submitted for testing. All results received have tested negative for evidence of the foot and mouth virus, antigens or antibodies.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated on the susceptibility of deer to foot and mouth.

Elliot Morley: All cloven-hoofed animals, including deer, are susceptible to foot and mouth disease. Wild deer tend to show mild or inapparent disease, resembling the disease in sheep, although some species (eg roe deer and muntjak deer in the UK) may be severely affected.
	Deer can be carriers of the foot and mouth virus, and could transmit foot and mouth disease to susceptible livestock during the clinical stages of the disease. However, the Department's current veterinary risk assessment indicates that the risk of wild deer playing any significant part in the spread of foot and mouth disease is very low. There are therefore no plans at this stage to control wild deer populations, although as more information becomes available about the epidemiology of the disease in areas where there are wild deer, the risk assessment will be updated.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost is of producing and delivering the new foot and mouth disease biosecurity video.

Elliot Morley: The cost of producing and distributing the biosecurity video amounted to 142,000.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence she has collated about the ability of (a) crows, (b) seagulls, (c) geese, (d) pigeons, (e) pheasants, (f) foxes and (g) badgers to spread foot and mouth by (i) body contact and (ii) other means.

Elliot Morley: Although none of these animals and birds is susceptible to foot and mouth disease, any of them could, in theory, play a role in spreading disease mechanically by moving contaminated material from one premises to another. However, there is no direct evidence of such spread in the current outbreak. The mechanical transmission of the FMD virus by rats and birds was the subject of research in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The risks were considered to be negligible if not zero.
	In relation specifically to geese, a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out on the risk of migratory geese spreading foot and mouth disease. The conclusion of the assessment was that the risk of spreading FMD virus was very low. The assessment may be found on the DEFRA website at: http://defraweb/footandmouth/ disease/risks/risk12.htm.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if ring vaccination for foot and mouth actively was considered by her Department in the first week of the epidemic.

Elliot Morley: Vaccination against foot and mouth disease remains an option that is kept under continuous review. Ring vaccination is one possible approach, which aims to control the spread of infection within and outside an infected area. It reduces the amount of virus circulating in the area, as the vaccinated animals will be less infectious.
	We did not ring vaccinate at the start of the outbreak because it was apparent that the virus had potentially been spread across a wide area, owing to the large number of movements that had taken place before the first case of foot and mouth disease was identified. This made ring vaccination an impractical option.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what instructions were given to the Post Office about disinfection of vehicles in foot and mouth risk areas.

Elliot Morley: MAFF provided the Post Office with general advice on the precautions they should take in the first few days of the outbreak. Detailed guidelines were subsequently drawn up on 12 March for all delivery companies. These guidelines were checked by veterinary staff, and the Post Office. A final version of the guidelines was sent to the Post Office on 25 March and placed on the Department's website on 10 April.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions her Department has contacted farmers to inspect animals for foot and mouth which had been slaughtered.

Elliot Morley: We take every care to avoid making visits to premises where animals have been slaughtered due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak. However, the scale of the current outbreak means that occasional errors do occur. While there are no figures available, we believe these to be isolated incidents.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Department first gave detailed advice to farmers on foot and mouth bio-security.

Elliot Morley: The Department's predecessor, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, issued a News Release on 22 February providing advice to farmers and the public, including advice on cleansing and disinfection. Foot and Mouth Disease Public Information Factsheet Number 2 (How to protect your farm) was sent to all livestock farmers on 5 March.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what farmers were involved in an advisory capacity in the production of the foot and mouth disease bio-security video.

Elliot Morley: An NFU representative with a farming background was involved at every stage of producing the biosecurity video which was distributed to all livestock farmers. He worked in collaboration with the production team, providing advice on the visual content, checking the script and making any changes necessary, and reviewing the 'rough cut' and final version of the video tape. The final version of the biosecurity video had the NFU's stamp of approval. The NFU representative in the Joint Communication Centre in London also had input in the cover letter to farmers which accompanied the video, signed by Chief Veterinary Officer, Jim Scudamore.
	During taping itself, two farmers were directly involved because their properties featured in the video. One farmer was from Yorkshire and the other from the south-east.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the contractors used by her Department in Carlisle on (a) 1 March, (b) 1 April, (c) 1 May, (d) 1 June and (e) 10 July.

Elliot Morley: From information held centrally, the contractors who have been used by the Department in Carlisle on (a) 1 March, (b) 1 April, (c) 1 May, (d) 1 June and (e) 10 July (contractors dealt with MAFF up to and including 9 July and with DEFRA from 10 July onwards) are provided in a table available in the Libraries of the House.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason washing soda was not included on the list of suitable foot and mouth disease disinfectants for washing farmers' clothes and boots.

Elliot Morley: Sodium carbonate (decahydrate) complying with BS 3674 of 1963 is approved as a disinfectant for use against foot and mouth disease when used at the approved dilution rate, as indicated on the list of approved disinfectants on the DEFRA website http:/defraweb/footandmouth/disease/disinfection/ disinfect2.asp.
	Further advice on the use of sodium carbonate for cleaning shoes and clothing can be found on the website at /disinfection/ph.asp.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the advantages and disadvantages of using vaccination against foot and mouth.

Elliot Morley: The Government's priority is to eradicate foot and mouth disease. The primary advantage of vaccination against foot and mouth disease is that it could help to contain the disease. The primary disadvantage of vaccination is that it does not remove the virus.
	Detailed information about the issues to be considered in the use of vaccination and the underlying science is on the DEFRA website and is included in my letter of 13 September 2001 to all Members of Parliament.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the detailed information on foot and mouth bio-security available on the MAFF website was circulated to farmers in hard copy form.

Elliot Morley: Biosecurity information was first mailed to all farmers in England on 5 March 2001. This was supplemented by further information contained in mailings on 12 April, 21 April, and 17 May. All information was posted on the MAFF website at the time of mailing.
	The 'Stopping the Spread' of disease campaign material (video and leaflet), which forms the core of the biosecurity information currently featured on the DEFRA website, was mailed on 6 July.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list in descending order the main ways in which the foot and mouth virus spreads.

Elliot Morley: Analyses have been completed for the first 1,903 infected farms, and epidemiological investigations continue on the most recent cases to determine the source of infection and method of spread.
	Short distance aerosol spread cannot be distinguished from other causes of local spread within 3 km of infected premises, which accounts for 79 per cent. of cases. In these cases there is often a number of possible means of spread such as using common facilities, contaminated roadways and movement of people and farm vehicles. In addition, however, 107 cases have been specifically associated with lorry movements or movements of people.
	In the latter part of the epidemic, transmission by vehicles, other inanimate objects and people have predominated.
	The breakdown is as follows (as at 31 August 2001):
	
		
			 GB Total 
		
		
			 Wind borne (not local) 18 
			 Dairy tanker 11 
			 Truck 28 
			 Other inanimate object 12 
			 Local(108) 1,500 
			 Person 68 
			 Infected animals 89 
			 Under investigation 177 
			  
			 Grand total 1,903 
		
	
	(108) IP within 3 km of another IP; exact source unclear, but associated with two or more means of spread through vehicles, people, inanimate objects and local aerosol spread

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many European vets have been taken off foot and mouth duties because of complaints from farmers about their (a) ability and (b) behaviour.

Elliot Morley: The number of European vets taken off foot and mouth duties because of complaints about their (a) ability and (b) behaviour is 2;
	(a) ability is 0
	(b) behaviour is 2
	out of a total of 412 who have been dealing with foot and mouth disease.
	Note:
	These figures are correct as at 30 September 2001

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm pyres in Cumbria have had to be re-lit with the use of diesel oil; and on how many occasions.

Elliot Morley: All 131 pyres were lit with diesel oil used as an accelerant. However some pyres needed to be stoked up with additional materials (pallets, straw etc.). No records were kept of the number of pyres that needed to be re-lit. On no occasion was a pyre re-lit using diesel oil only.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vaccination shots against foot and mouth are available for use in the UK; and if she will describe the vaccine.

Elliot Morley: Vaccine is formulated from antigen (inactivated FMD virus) in a solution (adjuvant) which stimulates the immune response. The virus strain used is O1 Manisa.
	As of the end of September 2001 we have 6.4 million doses of commercial antigen which would be enough to vaccinate at least 2.5 million animals. The exact number of doses needed per animal depends on the potency strength of the final vaccine, the number of doses given and the length of time we wish the animals to be protected. We have also placed a reserve on 125,000 doses of vaccine held in the European Vaccine Bank. This would have to be replaced if it was used.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the work being done with animal carcases at the Hallburn site, Longtown, Cumbria.

Elliot Morley: The DEFRA Hallburn site is used to transfer carcases of slaughtered animals to render vehicles for onward transportation to render plants. However, wherever possible, carcases are now being sent directly from the farm to the render plants. The Hallburn site is still needed in those cases where direct transfer from farm to render is not practical due to the small number of animals involved or where farms are inaccessible to the normal render wagons.
	DEFRA is now looking for new sites in which to locate the render transfer facility, to reflect the fact that recent cases have been occurring in the south of the county, nearer to the render plants. If a new site is found, the facility at Hallburn will be decommissioned.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning (a) co-ordination by her Department's officials of efforts to combat foot and mouth and (b) the way in which her Department's officials observe the Department's biosecurity precautions; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We have received a number of representations on both these issues from a wide range of interested parties.
	Part of the Government's approach to combating the foot and mouth outbreak has been regular meetings with stakeholders at local and national level and the involvement of other key Government Departments and agencies, both in the regions and in a central Joint Co-ordination Centre (JCC). The Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) has provided a forum for high level and strategic co-ordination, chaired by Ministers. During the height of the disease, COBR met seven days a week (twice a day on Monday to Friday).
	The Government's key priority is to eradicate foot and mouth disease as quickly as possible and vigilance and high standards of biosecurity are crucial. It is therefore imperative that DEFRA staff are seen to be applying good biosecurity measures at all times and at every available opportunity officials are reminded of this. Any breaches in these standards will be treated with the utmost seriousness.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received requesting a full public inquiry into the foot and mouth crisis.

Elliot Morley: Ministers have received a number of representations from a variety of organisations and individuals regarding a full public inquiry into the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
	On 9 August, the Prime Minister announced three independent inquiries into the lessons to be learned from the foot and mouth disease outbreak and the future of farming and the countryside. These will cover the lessons to be learned from the outbreak, to be chaired by Dr. Iain Anderson; a scientific review by the Royal Society to be chaired by Sir Brian Follett FRS; and a Policy Commission on the future of farming and food to be chaired by Sir Don Curry.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards producing contingency plans for preventing the spread of foot and mouth through (a) the Vale of York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) the Yorkshire and the Humber Region.

Elliot Morley: Further to my letter of 6 August to the hon. Member, which is available in the Libraries of the House, I confirmed that a contingency plan had been drawn up and would be refined in the light of new developments. Detailed planning has continued to address the possibility of any resurgence of disease in Yorkshire. A revised version of the contingency plan was prepared in September. Following the success of the Thirsk Restricted Infected Area (RIA) the plan includes, among other things, provision for the establishment of further RIAs should they be needed. The plan will be kept under continuous review.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms were visited by a vet from her Department before contracting foot and mouth disease during the current outbreak.

Elliot Morley: Ministry veterinary staff are required to visit farms as part of their day to day responsibilities. In the context of the current outbreak, these visits could include patrols or be for licensing reasons. We have no information on how many of these farms subsequently became infected premises.
	Visits by DEFRA staff would be investigated as part of the epidemiological review. In the current epidemic there is no evidence of infection having been introduced by this means.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out in detail the steps taken by her Department to process claims for animals slaughtered on an infected premises, setting out the reasons for taking each such step.

Elliot Morley: A claim form signed by the owner, the valuer (if applicable) and departmental official who attended the valuation is submitted to the local animal health office where initial scrutiny of the claim is carried out. A record is kept of all claims submitted and copies of the form are retained. The claim is then sent to Page street HQ in London where it is processed for payment, except for payments under the Cumbrian 3km cull which were sent direct to the DEFRA finance unit at Alnwick.
	At Page street all claims are checked for arithmetical correctness and to ensure they are correctly signed by valuer, owner and departmental official. The number of animals claimed for the dates the animals were valued and slaughtered are checked against centrally held records and any discrepancies resolved. On some occasions, additional information is requested from valuers to substantiate the value for some animals. The reason for the checks is to ensure the Department pays the correct amount of compensation for the right number of animals slaughtered to the rightful owner of the animals.
	After payment has been approved at an appropriate level, a payment request is sent to the DEFRA finance unit at Alnwick, along with bank account details to enable payment to be made to the claimant by BACS transfer. Where bank details are not available payment is made by cheque.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers in Cumbria have been notified that the numbers of sheep collected by lorries in the voluntary cull were less than the numbers previously valued.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA/MAFF received over 2,100 compensation claims in total as a result of the 3km cull. Around 200 farmers were initially paid for less than the total number of animals shown on the valuation. This was because of differences between the number of animals valued and the number shown as collected.
	Farmers who were not paid their full valuation were told that the reduction was an interim measure to allow us to pay them something and they were given an opportunity to make representations and submit additional information to allow us to reassess their case. Following receipt of additional evidence and information we have authorised 169 additional payments in respect of the valuations originally reduced because of discrepancies between numbers claimed and collected.

Foot and Mouth

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much compensation has been paid to date to people affected by foot and mouth in East Devon.

Elliot Morley: It is difficult to establish the exact amount of compensation paid to particular parts of a county or region. From the information currently available the provisional amount paid in statutory compensation for foot and mouth disease to producers in Devon is 86,901,302.

Foot and Mouth

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what restrictions are placed on the import of meat from countries in which foot and mouth disease is endemic;
	(2)  in which countries foot and mouth disease is endemic; and from which of those countries the importation of (a) carcases, (b) raw meat and (c) cooked meat is permitted.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 July 2001
	Community legislation does permit the importation of meat and meat products from certain countries where foot and mouth disease is endemic but only where the disease is restricted to specific areas. Imports are only permitted from parts of the country that are free of disease or under conditions that ensure the meat does not represent any health risk. These provisions are in line with the recommendations of the Northumberland Committee following the 1967 outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK.
	All meat and meat products imported from third countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification, which includes confirmation that the meat is derived from animals which have been subjected to an ante-mortem inspection during the 24 hours prior to slaughter in order to confirm, among other things, that the animal shows no signs of foot and mouth disease.
	If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health such as foot and mouth disease, Community legislation allows us to ban imports of meat from all, or parts, of the country concerned. Recent examples include Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Swaziland, Uruguay and Zimbabwe, and within the EU, France, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland.
	All meat and meat products imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where they are subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition. They are carried out by Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) employed by the local authority in which the BIP is located.

Foot and Mouth

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help will be provided to farmers affected by foot and mouth disease to enable them to return to farming.

Elliot Morley: The previous Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend (Mr. Brown), announced on 8 May a range of measures amounting to 15.4 million, made up of: 10.4 million for an enhanced Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) offering up to five days of free business advice for farmers whose livestock have been slaughtered under the foot and mouth control measures; 2 million in grant aid made available under a new round of the Agricultural Development Scheme, to improve marketing performance and competitiveness of sectors affected by foot and mouth; 3 million for a targeted trade development and market campaign, made available through Food from Britain who will co-ordinate their campaign with the Countryside Agency, Meat and Livestock Commission and others with an active interest.
	FBAS is a free and confidential service which is provided by an experienced farm business adviser and is available to any farmer in England who has had stock compulsorily slaughtered as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. We have sent a letter to all farmers in this category.
	An adviser will review the farmer's business and arrange for an environmental evaluation to be conducted by an appropriate specialist. The adviser will then help them prepare a whole farm recovery plan which will help farmers to develop new income opportunities and access the range of other support measures available to them. Advice is also provided on re-stocking.
	The Government's long-term strategy for the future of the agriculture industry aims to facilitate the development of a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector within a thriving rural economy that advances environmental, health and animal welfare goals. The independent Policy Commission announced on 9 August will look at the future of food and farming and advise us on how to achieve this.
	All this is in addition to the 1 billion paid out to farmers in compensation for animals slaughtered due to foot and mouth disease.

Foot and Mouth

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much compensation has been paid to date to people affected by foot and mouth disease in south Lancashire.

Elliot Morley: From the information available on 27 September, the provisional amount paid in compensation for livestock slaughtered due to foot and mouth disease to producers in Lancashire is 39,763,091. A figure for south Lancashire could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Foot and Mouth

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have yet to receive compensation for the slaughter of their animals resulting from the foot and mouth disease crisis in (a) the UK and (b) Wales.

Elliot Morley: As at 4 October 2001 the number of farmers awaiting compensation was; (a) 430 in the UK, including (b) 53 in Wales.

Foot and Mouth

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of Britain's abattoirs she estimates will close due to the foot and mouth crisis.

Elliot Morley: The number of abattoirs has been in decline for a considerable number of years. It is recognised that abattoirs have experienced much disruption during the foot and mouth disease outbreak. However, identifying the impact of foot and mouth disease would be extremely difficult, especially before the outbreak has run its course.

Foot and Mouth

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria she will use in deciding when the foot and mouth outbreak is over.

Elliot Morley: The OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) sets out the criteria for regaining disease-free status. To regain our disease-free status (without vaccination), we must be able to declare that there have been no outbreaks of disease for three months; that no vaccination has been carried out for at least 12 months; that we have not imported vaccinated animals; that all regulatory measures for the prevention and control of foot and mouth disease have been implemented and that we have documented evidence of an effective system of surveillance in operation.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what audit procedures are undertaken on authorised contractors to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who are retained on contracts to cleanse and disinfect foot and mouth affected premises.

Elliot Morley: Authorised contractors to DEFRA retained on contracts to cleanse and disinfect foot and mouth affected premises have their services and charges subjected to audit and review by clerks of works, quantity surveyors and forensic accountants engaged by DEFRA.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure that British agriculture is protected in case of a resurgence of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: Once foot and mouth disease has been eradicated, we will continue to be vigilant, in order to prevent a recurrence of the disease.
	Imports of meat and meat products into the United Kingdom, as into other member states of the European Union, take place within the framework of European law. The UK imports livestock under EU or national rules only from countries or areas officially recognised as being free from foot and mouth disease.
	The control of meat and meat product imports into this country involves the inspection of commercial imports at border inspection posts, controls on personal imports and action in shops and other food premises against sales of illegally imported food. The Government are taking action in all of these contexts to build on existing controls.
	Where farms have been culled due to foot and mouth disease, certain rules apply before restocking can take place to minimise the risk of recurrence of the disease. Alternatively, if the farmer does not wish to restock at once, restrictions are lifted four months after the full and final C and D, subject to a final inspection. If it has not been possible to complete a full C and D to DEFRA's satisfaction, 12 months must elapse after the preliminary C and D before restocking can take place.
	Biosecurity measures are also vital in helping to prevent the spread and resurgence of foot and mouth disease. As part of the ongoing campaign to provide timely and accurate information and advice to all concerned we have mailed biosecurity guidelines, leaflets and letters and placed adverts in local, national and specialist publications. In addition, local veterinary inspectors have contacted their clients to discuss biosecurity and other aspects of the disease.
	The Department has contingency plans to deal with all notifiable exotic animal diseases, including foot and mouth disease. These are regularly updated and tested by the state veterinary service.
	The Government in addition have announced two independent inquiries to look into the lessons to be learned from the current outbreak of foot and mouth, and a public commission to examine how the Government can create a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector which contributes to a thriving rural economy while at the same time advances environmental, economic health and animal welfare goals. We want to learn the lessons for the future, quickly and without great expense.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 2001 (4135), Official Report column 396W, what is the nature of the help being offered by Advantage West Midlands to businesses in Worcestershire affected by the foot and mouth restrictions.

Alun Michael: Advantage West Midlands has worked with partners to tackle the economic impact of foot and mouth disease through a range of measures including: advice to businesses via Business Link and 4 million Rural Recovery Fund targeted at small businesses in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. As a result, 57 of the businesses helped have been in Worcestershire. Advice to visitors through a promotional campaign developed by the Heart of England Tourist Board, with a marketing campaign around the May bank holidays. A tourism marketing recovery programme of around 800,000 with a balance of regional and local activity including 70,000 given to a Worcestershire programme.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of officials her Department needs to manage the foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: The number of officials engaged in the management and control of the foot and mouth outbreak has varied widely according to the state of the disease. At the height there were about 6,000 officials directly involved with the management and control of the disease. This figure has now reduced significantly, but staff can quickly be recalled in the event of an escalation of the disease.

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many businesses have received financial assistance through grants offered to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease; and how much the budget is for such grants in the South West of England.

Alun Michael: Some 3,500 businesses in England have so far received a grant. The budget for such grants in the south-west is 9.2 million.

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date guidance was sent to Forest of Dean district council concerning grants and assistance to tourism businesses affected by foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: Business Link Gloucestershire provided the Forest of Dean district council with an outline of the scheme in May. It was agreed that the Business Link would work in partnership with the Forest of Dean district council to promote awareness of grant funding, and at the beginning of June the businesses who had contacted FDCC to seek assistance were sent details of the scheme.

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when it is expected that businesses in the Forest of Dean, which have met the criteria for obtaining grants to assist them after foot and mouth disease, will receive the money.

Alun Michael: The timing of receipt of money depends on the speed at which the business, which is being grant aided, can complete the relevant action. Thirty-six businesses have already been grant aided to a total of 342,000, and 26 businesses are still in discussions with advisers.

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the criteria are for obtaining a grant for a business affected by foot and mouth disease; who set the criteria; and on what advice.

Alun Michael: The criteria were set by the then Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) in consultation with other Government Departments, to the effect that the business had been substantially adversely affected, had taken all reasonable steps to reduce costs, could present evidence of sound trading immediately before the outbreak, and could demonstrate that it was likely to be able to return to profit within 12 months. Help was available only to small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) and to a maximum of 15,000.

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many businesses in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) Herefordshire have received financial assistance through grants offered to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: One hundred and six businesses in Gloucestershire had received approval for grant funding as at 20 September. Ninety seven businesses in Herefordshire had received approval for grant funding as at 30 September.

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when information and guidance was issued to Gloucestershire Business Link about grants and assistance to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: Business Link Gloucestershire received formal notification via a contract dated 31 May (which they received on 4 June).

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been awarded to Business Link Gloucestershire for grants to offer assistance to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: 2.421 million has been allocated to Business Link Gloucestershire for business support.

Foot and Mouth

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of time is between application and award by (a) Gloucestershire Business Link and (b) Herefordshire Business Links in respect of grants to assist businesses affected by foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: Care has been taken to allow decisions on applications for help under this scheme to be dealt with in a way which meets the needs of each region and the local needs within each region, which is why we have depended on the local expertise of Business Links.
	The different administrative systems adopted by the two agencies do not allow a straightforward comparison of this sort to be made.

Foot and Mouth

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to increase awareness among rural businesses of the financial aid available due to the foot and mouth outbreak.

Alun Michael: The Government have been actively raising awareness among affected businesses of the financial aid available to help cope with the impact of foot and mouth disease. The Small Business Service has sent out 3.7 million copies of their leaflet Coping with Foot and Mouthhelp for business via banks, post offices, trade associations, employer organisations, etc. Business advice fact sheets have been posted on DEFRA's website, http://www.defra.gov.uk/ and we have set up help lines. The regional development agencies have also been actively promoting the business recovery fund.
	Preliminary results from research by Prism Consulting for the Department in September reveals that 40 per cent. of businesses had sought assistance from an outside organisationbe that central or local government, or through the regional development agencies, etc.which is an improvement on earlier results. We continue to look at the most effective means to engage the rural business community in order to make sure that assistance gets to those businesses with the most pressing need.

Foot and Mouth

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a UK national top-up to the sheep annual premium scheme to offset the reduction in premiums arising from the effect of the foot and mouth outbreaks.

Elliot Morley: Rates of sheep annual premium are determined each year by the European Commission and are based on the difference between the EU basic price for sheepmeat and the annual average price for sheepmeat on the EU market. There is no provision in the EU sheepmeat regime for national top-ups of the EU rate.

Foot and Mouth

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the import into Britain of livestock products is allowed from countries in which foot and mouth is endemic.

Elliot Morley: European Community legislation does permit the importation of meat and meat products from certain countries where foot and mouth disease is endemic but only where the disease is restricted to specific areas. Imports are only permitted from parts of the country that are free of disease or under conditions that ensure the meat does not represent any health risk. These provisions are in line with the guidelines set out in the Office International des Epizooties International Animal Health Code 2001.
	All meat and meat products imported from third countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification, which includes confirmation that the meat is derived from animals which have been subjected to an ante-mortem inspection during the 24 hours prior to slaughter in order to confirm, among other things, that the animal shows no signs of foot and mouth disease.
	All meat and meat products imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs) where they are subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition.

Landfill Tax

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the landfill tax receipts to be collected in each of the next five years.

Paul Boateng: Forecast tax receipts for the following year are published each March in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (FSBR) for all indirect and direct taxes. By convention, forecasts of tax receipts in later years are not published separately; they are, however, implicit within the projections of total receipts provided in the FSBR.